Lalls Emporium

Our shop is tucked away at 1009 in Chawri Bazar, and if you’ve ever been near the Jama Masjid, you know exactly what the vibe is like. It’s loud, it’s crowded, and there’s always something happening right outside the door. Lalls Emporium has been part of this neighborhood for a long time, and we’ve seen the streets change quite a bit over the years. The rickshaws are always clattering by and the smell of the food stalls nearby usually drifts in around lunchtime. Inside, it’s a bit cramped because we try to keep as much stock as possible on the shelves. We aren’t big on fancy decorations or bright lights. It’s more about having what people need when they walk in. Sometimes the power goes out for a bit, but we just light a few candles and keep talking to whoever is there. Dealing with the narrow lanes of Old Delhi means everything takes a little longer—deliveries can be a real headache with the traffic—but we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. The walls are a bit dusty and the floorboards creak, but that’s just how it is in a place this old. We spend our days sorting through items, chatting with the regulars who drop by just to say hello, and making sure the ledgers are more or less up to date. It’s a simple way of doing things. People know where to find us if they need anything. There’s usually someone here until late.