Retail Plus
Chennai
Bazaar Buzz
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‘Sivaji’ saris sold in old-fashioned bungalows, cyclists and cars whizzing past us, crowds thronging the street… Zam bazaar is like a walk down memory lane!
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Madras may have now become Chennai; Koyambedu may well be your new bus terminal, yet some things remain untouched by time. No eight-floored multiplexes, no tongue-twisting foreign branded stores, no pizza joints, no cafes…everything about Zam bazaar is still very Madrazz! So what does good old Zam bazaar hold in store for you? A fascinating array of merchandise that will capture your fancy!
The minute you step into Zam bazaar in Triplicane, you’ll find a riot of colours capturing your attention. Here, you’ll find hawkers selling strung jasmines or brightly coloured glass bangles, petty shops selling anything from clothes and groceries to footwear! There are also shops that sell frames, hardware goods and other odd items. And this area is probably the best place in the city to buy herbal medicines. You have a string of ‘Nattu Marundhu kadais’ (shops selling traditional Indian folk medicine) lining up this street. We walk into Sundaram Chettiar Nattu Marundhu Kadai, which has been here for around 16 years.
Ramesh of Sundaram Chettiar Nattu Marundhu Kadai says, “We have herbal solutions for your health as well as your beauty. For years we have been selling herbs like Kaduka, Thipla to the more renowned herbal beauty ingredient - Mutanai mitti! Our herbal concoctions too are popular.”
Husain, who has a more contemporary gift shop to flaunt, says, “I feel the purchasing power of people has increased and business here is as good as ever. We seek and bring in as much variety to our shop as possible. Thus we cater to the growing needs of the people here.” On the market in general, he adds, “Of course, the vegetable markets and fish markets here are still major crowd pullers!” Ashok Kumar of Shanmugam Ghee Store echoes this sentiment saying, “Our shop has been here for 60 years and I feel the market still has its charm. Though the wholesale vegetable market has shifted to Koyambedu, the retail business is still hot and happening here!” As we leave this quaint market, we experience the nostalgia of seeing an old school friend!
CATHERINE JONA GILON
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