United General Stores

This store is situated on the ground floor at 8B R B Basu Road in the Calcutta GPO area. It is a very old part of the city and the buildings have a lot of history to them. United General Stores has been around for quite a while in this spot. Because we are near the GPO, we get a lot of people who work in the offices nearby coming in for small things during their lunch break. The ceilings are high but the shop feels a bit dark because of the tall buildings outside. We sell a bit of everything, stationery and snacks and household items. It gets very loud with the trams and the cars passing by on the main road. Sometimes it’s hard to hear what the customers are saying. We have wooden counters that have been worn smooth over the years. It is a different kind of pace here compared to the village shops. People are always in a rush to get back to their desks. We keep the most popular items right at the front so they can grab them quickly. The floor is made of old tiles that have a few cracks here and there. It’s a busy life in the heart of Calcutta but I wouldn't know what else to do with my time. We just keep the doors open and wait for the next person.