Chai Mates

Chai Mates is a little shop at 45A, Main Road in Kodungaiyur. It is right on the main stretch, so we see a lot of the traffic and people moving through the neighborhood. We are not a big chain or a franchise. It is just a few of us who wanted to open a place where people could grab a quick tea. The shop is small and can get a bit crowded during the morning and evening hours when everyone is commuting. We keep things very basic. There is a stove, some benches, and the tea supplies. We do not have a fancy menu with dozens of options. We just do tea and a few small snacks that go well with it. The noise from the road is constant, but you get used to it after a few days. We spend a lot of time cleaning the glasses and making sure the floor is swept. There is nothing corporate about how we run things. If the weather is bad, we might close a little early, and if it is busy, we stay open late. It is a practical business. We know our customers and they know us. We are just a part of the daily routine for the people in Kodungaiyur. No fuss, just tea. We started this because there wasn't a good spot to just stand and have a drink nearby. Now, we are here every day, boiling the water and watching the world go by.