Salem Steel Centre

Salem Steel Centre is located at number 7, Ekambareswar Agraharam, which most people just know as Mint Street. This part of the city is incredibly old and the streets are quite narrow, so getting large loads in and out can be a real challenge sometimes. We’ve been working out of this small space for a long time. It’s crowded with different types of stainless steel items, from plates to pipes. Since space is tight, we have to stack things very carefully to make sure we can still walk around. The walls are lined with racks that go all the way up. On a typical day, we have people dropping in from all over the neighborhood looking for specific pieces. We do a lot of measuring and cutting right here on the floor. It’s a bit noisy with the sound of metal clinking together, but we’re used to it. The light inside isn’t the best, so we often take things out to the doorway to get a better look at the finish. We don't have any fancy displays or a website; word of mouth is mostly how people find us. We know the history of this street and the families who have run shops here for generations. We just try to provide what people need without making a big fuss about it. It’s a simple life in a busy market, and we wouldn't have it any other way. It gets very humid here in the summer but we keep the fans going.