Choudhary Stores

You can find us at Gr-39 in the Chinoy Colony, which is right in the 400049 area of Mumbai. Being in a colony means we see the same faces every single day. It’s a tight space, typical for Mumbai, but we’ve managed to fit everything we need inside. The shelves go all the way up, and we use a little stool to reach the stuff at the top. It’s usually me or one of the boys behind the counter. We don't have a lot of room for people to lounge around, but customers still manage to hang out and chat for a bit. The colony is always buzzing with noise, kids playing outside or people shouting to their neighbors. We open up early and usually stay until late evening. The light inside is a bit dim because the shop is tucked away, but we like it that way. It keeps the heat out during those really humid Mumbai afternoons. We handle everything ourselves, from unloading the supplies to sweeping the floor at night. There’s always a bit of dust because of the construction nearby, but we try to keep the items clean. It’s a local shop for local people. We aren't looking to expand or move to a mall; we like being right here where everyone knows our name. It’s just a basic store doing basic things for the neighborhood.