Manilaya

Manilaya is located at No 30/63 on Nallapa Vathiyar Street in Old Washermanpet. We are right opposite the 24 Manai Telugu Chettiyar Mahal, which is a big landmark around here. Because of the Mahal, we see a lot of people coming and going for weddings and functions. Our shop fits right into the busy, crowded vibe of Old Washermanpet. It’s a place filled with the sounds of motorcycles and people talking. We don't have a fancy storefront with big glass windows. It's a more traditional setup where things are stacked on shelves and we know exactly where everything is, even if it looks a bit cluttered to someone else. We spend our hours attending to customers who walk in from the street. It’s a very hands-on job. We don't really do much online stuff; we prefer talking to people face to face. The building is older, so it has that specific smell of old wood and paper. Sometimes the power goes out for a bit and we just wait it out while chatting with the neighbors. It’s a slow and steady kind of business. We’ve seen the area change a lot over the years but our spot on Nallapa Vathiyar Street stays pretty much the same. It’s just a normal part of our lives, being here and serving the local community. We don't really think about it too much, we just get on with the work.