Madeena General Store

Madeena General Store has been a part of Neelasandra in Bangalore for a good many years. We are just a small neighborhood shop that serves the local families living around this part of the city. Bangalore has changed a lot, but this street feels pretty much the same as it always has. My shop is packed from floor to ceiling with all sorts of items like soaps, toothpaste, snacks, and different types of grains. I don't have much room to move around, but I like having everything within arm's reach. Most days start with the milk delivery early in the morning, and then it is just a steady stream of people until we close up at night. I don't use any fancy computers or barcode scanners, I just write everything down in a notebook when I have the time. The floor is a bit uneven and the paint is peeling in some corners, but it doesn't seem to bother anyone who shops here. People come in for a quick packet of chips or a bottle of oil and we usually talk about the weather or how much the prices of vegetables have gone up lately. It is a basic place for basic needs. I don't try to compete with the big stores downtown because I know my customers prefer coming somewhere where the owner knows their name and what they usually buy. It is a lot of standing on my feet, but I am used to it now.