Panchsheel Tools & Hardware

Panchsheel Tools & Hardware at 342/4 Rasta Peth Sharda Plaza. Being in Sharda Plaza means we see a lot of different people every day. Rasta Peth is a crowded area, and finding parking is almost impossible. Our shop is packed tight. We have shelves that go all the way to the ceiling, and sometimes we have to use a very shaky ladder to reach the top ones. It’s a bit of a mess to an outsider, I suppose, but we know exactly where the smallest screw or the heaviest hammer is kept. The counter is made of old wood and has been worn smooth over the years by people leaning on it. We don't have a big staff, just a couple of us who know the stock well. The ceiling fan wobbles a bit, but it’s been doing that for years without falling. We get a lot of regulars who come in just to chat for a minute before buying what they need. It’s a social place in that way. The noise from the street is always there, a mix of horns and people shouting. We eat our lunch in the small space behind the counter, usually something brought from home. We don't bother with fancy displays or lighting. If you need a tool, we probably have it somewhere in a box. It’s a practical way to run things. We close up when the sun goes down and do it all again the next day.