Jayakar Stores

Jayakar Stores is located out at No 1/455, G N T Road in Karanodai, which is part of the Sholavaram area near Chennai. Being situated on the G N T Road means we are right near the highway, so we get a lot of travelers stopping by in addition to the local residents. The shop is a simple brick and mortar structure. It isn't very large, so we have many items like snacks and small plastic goods hanging from hooks on the ceiling. It’s a bit of a walk from the main city, so we try to keep a good variety of daily essentials so people don't have to travel far. The heat in Sholavaram can be quite intense, and the shop gets a bit stuffy in the middle of the day. I usually sit on a plastic chair near the entrance to catch whatever breeze comes through. We handle everything ourselves, from unloading the supply trucks to attending to every customer. We don't use any fancy technology; it’s just us and our notebooks. Most of our customers are people from the nearby houses who have been coming to us for years. We know their preferences and what they usually need for their kitchens. The shop feels a bit old-fashioned, but it serves its purpose for the community in Karanodai. We stay open until the highway traffic thins out late at night. It is just a quiet, honest way to make a living in this part of town.