Chandan Stores

Chandan Stores sits right in Chembur Shivaji Nagar 1. It’s one of those shops where things are stacked all the way to the ceiling in no particular order. If you’re looking for something specific, you usually have to ask me because it’s probably hidden behind a box of something else or way up on the top shelf. We’ve got shelves full of everything from soap to snacks and random plastic buckets. The shop is narrow, and if two people are in the aisle, one usually has to back out to let the other pass. I’ve spent years behind this counter, watching the kids in the neighborhood grow up. Some of them now come in with their own children to buy biscuits. The floor is made of old stone that’s worn smooth from all the years of walking. We don’t use any computer systems here; everything is still written down in a big ledger with a blue pen. Sometimes the power goes out in the afternoons and we have to use a flashlight to find what people need. It’s just part of living and working in Chembur. The street outside is always full of noise, people shouting and horns honking. We have a small stool behind the counter where I sit when things get quiet, which isn’t very often. It’s a simple life, keeping track of inventory and making change for everyone. People just know we’re here at Shivaji Nagar.