Venka General Stores

Down at Panga Centre in Vijayawada, our shop, Venka General Stores, has its spot. This part of Vijayawada can get really hot, especially in the middle of the afternoon when the sun is right overhead. We keep the doors open to catch whatever breeze comes through the 520001 area. Most of the folks who come in are living right around the corner. They need things for their kitchens, like spices or matches or maybe a cold bottle of water. We’ve got stacks of items reaching up to the ceiling because there isn't much floor space to work with. It's a bit of a squeeze sometimes when three or four people are inside at once. I try to keep the books straight every night before closing up. It’s mostly just routine work, lifting crates and putting out new stock that arrives on the rickshaws. We don't do any big advertising or anything like that. People just know we are here at the centre. Some days are slow and I just sit on the stool and watch the cars go by. Other times, it's a rush and everyone wants something at the same time. We just do our best to get everyone what they asked for and send them on their way. It’s a basic shop for basic needs, and that suits us just fine. We have been here a while and plan to stay for as long as we can.