B. C. Raja & Co.

General Patters Road is where you’ll find us, right at number 118. If you’ve ever needed anything for a vehicle or some hardware in Chennai, you’ve probably walked past our door. It’s a very busy street, always full of people, bikes, and the smell of grease and tea. Our shop is packed from floor to ceiling with boxes and parts. Honestly, it’s a bit of a miracle we find anything in here, but we usually know exactly which shelf has what. We’ve been part of the GP Road scene for a long time now. Most of our day is spent talking to customers who come in looking for something specific, often something that’s hard to find. We sit behind a wooden counter that’s seen better days, writing out receipts by hand. It’s noisy and hot, especially in the summer, but that’s just the atmosphere of the market. We take our tea breaks when there’s a lull in the crowd, usually standing out on the pavement for a bit of air. We don't do fancy displays; if you want to see something, we just pull it out of the box for you. It’s a very traditional way of doing business, based on knowing people and having the right stock. We just keep doing what we’ve always done, serving the folks who come down to this part of town for their supplies.