Balaji Cool Bar

If you’ve ever walked down Mount Poonamallee Road near the Sar College, you’ve probably seen our spot. We are right there in Iyyappanthangal, 2/581 to be exact. It’s a busy stretch of road, especially when the college students are out or when the traffic picks up in the evening. We started Balaji Cool Bar just to give people a place to get a quick drink and cool off for a minute. It isn't a fancy lounge with soft chairs; it’s more of a place where you stand, grab your glass, and maybe chat for a second before heading back into the heat. We get a lot of regulars, mostly guys from the neighborhood and students who are always in a rush. The fridge hums all day long, and we are constantly restocking things. Sometimes it gets a bit crowded and loud, but that’s just the energy of this part of town. We don't spend money on fancy decorations or anything. The walls could probably use a fresh coat of paint, but we're usually too busy serving customers to worry about that. It’s just a straightforward shop. We open up in the morning, make sure everything is cold, and stay open until the street quietens down. It’s a lot of standing on your feet and dealing with the Chennai humidity, but we’ve gotten used to it over the years. We just do our thing here on the main road and hope for the best.