Two new shops in Central are stocked with reminders of days gone by, and some

COFFIN-MAKERS line the route and more cars than people pass by Treasureland, a new Hollywood Road shop specialising in European antiques and oozing old-world style and comfort.

For owner Kelly So Ka-lai that is part of the attraction. 'I like that this location is hidden,' she said. 'When people suddenly come across it, they feel excited about the shop.' And no wonder. Outside are traffic noise, fumes and concrete; inside, Bach plays on the stereo, sweet incense lingers in the air and soft lighting falls on the draped, luxurious goods.

Treasureland is one of two shops specialising in European curios and antiques to open since July. Both have a large range of Victorian beaded handbags and costume jewellery and carry other items related to Europe and the past.

But it is a happy coincidence that the two - the other is Amours Antiques on nearby Staunton Street - opened at the same time because neither of their owners is motivated primarily by business considerations, such as cashing in on any trend for things colonial.

Ms So, for instance, started collecting Victorian handbags and jewellery - she has about 80 handbags - while at college in the United States, after a friend introduced her to the flea markets there.

It was a hobby and would have stayed as such if the stock market had not crashed last year. She was working as an investment consultant and was upset by the effects on her colleagues and clients who lost large sums of money, so she quit and invested $1 million to set up her shop.