Tools & Metal Syndicate

Our shop is at 226 Thambu Chetty Street, though the old number was 216. People still get confused sometimes when they look for us. We’ve been here in this part of town for a long time. It’s a very old street, full of history and other shops like ours. Tools & Metal Syndicate is a small setup. We have shelves filled with all sorts of bits and pieces. It’s a bit dark inside because the building is old and deep. We know our inventory well, even if it looks a bit messy to an outsider. Customers come in looking for specific tools or metal parts. We spend a lot of time searching through drawers. It’s a manual process. No fancy computer systems here, just a lot of experience and memory. The street outside is very narrow. You have to be careful walking. It gets very hot in the summer because there isn’t much breeze. We have a ceiling fan that’s seen better days. We just keep going. It’s a family-style environment even if we aren't all related. We’ve seen the shops around us change names over the decades. We’re still here, doing the same work. The lighting is a bit dim, so we use desk lamps to see the smaller parts. We've got old wooden counters that have been worn smooth by years of customers. We just make it work and keep things simple.