Spice

Our shop is over in Mahalaxmi Puram at 702/B. It is a pretty straightforward place where we deal with all sorts of spices and pantry items that people use in their cooking every day. When you step inside, the smell is the first thing you notice—it is a mix of cumin, turmeric, and dried chilies. We spend a lot of our time weighing out bags and chatting with the ladies from the neighborhood who know exactly what they want for their dinner. The shelves are packed pretty tight because we try to keep a bit of everything in stock. It is not a supermarket style at all; it is more of a traditional setup where things are piled up and you might have to ask where something is. We have been here long enough that the floorboards have a bit of a creak and we know which light switch is finicky. Sometimes the deliveries arrive late and we have to shuffle boxes around in the small space we have. It gets a bit chaotic during festival times when everyone is looking for specific ingredients for their sweets and snacks. We do not do much in the way of advertising. Most people just find us by walking past or hearing about us from a neighbor. It is just a practical shop for people who cook at home and want stuff that hasn't been sitting in a warehouse for months. We just stay open until the last customer leaves.