Phool Singh Petha & General Store

Phool Singh Petha & General Store has been a part of the Taj Ganj neighborhood for a very long time. Being located in Purani Mandi, we are quite close to the Taj Mahal area, but we aren't really a shop for tourists. We mostly serve the local people who live in the narrow lanes of old Agra. Of course, we sell petha because you can't really have a shop in this part of town without it, but we are also a general store for all kinds of daily items. You can find things like matchboxes, lentils, and basic cleaning supplies on our shelves. The shop is tucked away and the street outside is quite narrow, so big cars can't really come through. It is mostly just motorcycles and people walking by. The building itself is very old, with thick walls that stay a bit cooler during the intense summer heat. We don't have any big glass windows, just the open front where everything we sell is visible to anyone passing by. My brother and I take turns sitting at the front counter. We don't wear any formal uniforms, just our regular everyday clothes. Sometimes the monkeys from the nearby trees try to sneak in and grab something, so we have to keep a close eye on the front. It is a bit of a chaotic life, but it is the only business we know.