Lakashmi Stores

Lakashmi Stores is right here at 89, Lakshmangudi in the Koothanallur area. It’s a local neighborhood spot where we sell the basics like oil, sugar, and pulses. The shop isn't very big, so we have to be clever about how we stack the tins and the bags. In the mornings, you can smell the fresh coffee powder we just put out. People in Koothanallur like to stop and chat, so a quick trip to the store often takes longer than planned. We’ve seen kids grow up around here, coming in for sweets and now coming in to buy groceries for their own houses. The wooden counter is worn down in the middle from years of sliding change across it. We don't have fancy air conditioning, just the open door to let the air in from the street. When the monsoon comes, we have to move everything away from the entrance so it doesn't get damp. It’s a lot of manual work, lifting crates and unpacking boxes when the distributor arrives. We keep a ledger for the regulars who pay at the end of the month. It’s just the way things have always been done here. We aren't a big supermarket, just a corner store where you know the person behind the scale. We open up early and close late, six days a week, making sure the local pantry stays full without any big drama or fuss.