Rethna Ice Company

Our place, Rethna Ice Company, is located at No. 275 on Therku Ratha Veethi in Thiruvadanai. This is the south chariot street, so it is a very traditional part of town. We mostly deal with ice, which is a big necessity around here given how the sun beats down on Tamil Nadu. Thiruvadanai is a place where people know each other, and being on the Ratha Veethi means we are right in the middle of all the local activity. We don't have a fancy storefront with bright lights; it is more of a practical workspace where we manage the ice. Most of our day is spent handling the blocks or bags and making sure the machinery is working right so nothing melts. It can be heavy work, and the floors are almost always wet, which is just part of the job. We see a lot of local vendors and shopkeepers who need ice for their own businesses. Sometimes people stop by just for a small bit of ice for their homes or for a cooling box they are taking on a trip. We have been in this spot for years and the building shows its age a little, but it serves its purpose. We don't do any big marketing or anything like that. We just open up the doors in the morning and stay until the work is done. It is a simple, honest business and we are glad to be part of the street. It gets quiet at night when the temple activities finish.