An old puppet, old board games, little trains, papier-mâché masks… In an alley in north London, many passers-by stop in front of a window with a magical atmosphere. But here, nothing is for sale.
The blue door decorated with a Christmas wreath remains closed, no one answers. There's no point trying to make purchases at number 43 Camden Passage: it's not a store, but a collector's den.
Wedged between a Mexican grill and a jewelry store, the address is the former residence of 88-year-old Bob Borzello. And the display case, the result of a life spent collecting. “Accumulate”he prefers to say.
“Everyone comes and asks when it’s open”tells AFP her daughter-in-law, Belle Benson, 51, now in charge with her daughter of the presentation of the window.
“People like it, especially young children”comments Bob Borzello, who formerly ran a poster shop in this place, with his wife.
Bob Borzello, owner of the window at 43 Camden Passage, at his home in London, December 20, 2024 / BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP
Originally from Chicago, this former businessman and tabloid editor arrived in London in the 1960s to study at the London School of Economics. He returned to settle there permanently in 1967 with his wife, from whom he is now divorced.
“Collector gene”
Bob Borzello built up his vast collection of objects by scouring antique stores and flea markets. “The fun part is looking and finding.”he comments.
About ten years ago, Mr. Borzello began exhibiting his objects and the window of the old store became a real neighborhood institution.
The toy collection began with model airplanes. In addition to toys, Mr. Borzello has accumulated many memorabilia from the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Objects from the collection of Bob Borzello in London, December 20, 2024 / BENJAMIN CREMEL / AFP
His collections include clocks, badges, wedding cake toppers, store mannequins, his children's old school reports and even his old Covid tests, which he has lined up next to his phone.
In her apartment located not far away, on the same street, the fireplace is surrounded by green objects: vases, shoes, hats, women's necklaces…
The octogenarian thinks he inherited the “collector gene” from his Italian-American mother. And his own daughter, he says, used to wander the banks of the Thames looking for treasure. His son, on the other hand, is like “minimalist”.
His daughter-in-law says she recently caught him using a paper shredder. Bob Borzello laughs, and explains that he was shredding his old love letters so his grandchildren wouldn't be able to read them after he died.
But he still wanted to keep the pieces. “I have a hard time getting rid of things”he admits.
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