“Being asked to shift out of Kothawal Chavadi market is the saddest thing to happen to us,” says G.S. Thiyagarajan, a fourth-generation owner of Sri Bhalaji Traders at Audiappa Naicken Street, George Town. His is among the many family-run businesses that are hesitant to move out of the century-old market, for various reasons.
“There are so many sentiments attached to doing business here. We stay very close to the shop. I cut my business teeth here, learning from my grandfather N.C. Govindaraji Chetty and father G. Sreenivasalu Chetty. This is a wholesale hub and we will not find the same amenities at Koyambedu market where we are allotted a shop,” says Thiyagarajan, 61, sitting amidst neatly-packed packets of vadams, appalams and vathals .
It’s not just the low prices, vast stocks or mind-boggling variety. It’s also the fact that business here is old school – purchasing anything requires a long chat and bargaining.
Although provision shops at the market are seeing a dip in business due to emergence of markets at all major neighbourhoods, the chaos has only got worse.
“The market has always been bustling and now the number of shops have increased,” he says.
The style of conducting business has changed. “Previously, we sourced chillies from Guntur, sun-dried them and powered them in our own unit that took around four days. Now, it is outsourced,” says M. Bhaskar, a relative with a store a few shops away. The store stocks branded products such as Golden Dragon noodles, Sakthi Masala and Lion Dates.
Like many other shops, Bhalaji Traders also imports and export products. While khus khus is imported from Pakistan, items such as vadams and chilli pickle are exported to Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore. “I am getting prepared mentally to move to Koyambedu market and I hope the next generation can continue the business my forefathers started,” says Thiyagarajan.
