Step Up

Being right by the Madurai Central Bus Stand means there is never a quiet moment around here. Step Up is located at No 9B on Valluvar South Street. You can hear the buses pulling in and out all day long, and there’s always a crowd of people heading toward the Meenakshi Temple. It’s a busy part of Madurai, and our little spot is right in the middle of that energy. We’ve been here for a bit now, and we’ve seen all sorts of people walk through the door. It’s not a fancy place with marble floors or anything. It’s just a practical space where we get things done. Some days the heat in Madurai is just too much, so we keep the fans going at full speed. People stop by on their way to the temple or while they’re waiting for a bus to their village. We don't spend much time on fancy decorations or trying to look like we’re from a big city. We just open the shutters in the morning and stay until the last bus rush dies down. It’s a simple setup on Valluvar South Street. Sometimes the street gets blocked by a cart or a delivery truck, but that’s just how it is in this part of town. We know most of the people who work in the nearby shops. It’s a good community to be part of.