Shopping In Parry's

TRAVEL SERIES IN PARRY'S

Parry’s Corner 

 Shopping In the by-lanes of Parry’s

If you have the time, knack and patience to navigate through the honking of scooters, amidst the rickshaw-pullers, to keep in sync with the haphazard way in which share-autos maze their way through, while the rickshaw-puller tries to catch up with the pace, then welcome yourself to Parry’s for an unforgettable shopping time, and having saved enough money, as a bonus.

With the Khadi-Kraft Bus Depot, a hop and jump away from the main shopping area, you will find lined-up shops that sell apparel catering to different tastes and ages –T shirts sometimes with amusing lines, or delightful children’s clothes, all vying for attention even as they welcome you at the bus depot.

Khadi-Kraft, which has occupied a pride of place at this juncture for years and years – beckons one to quickly check out the handicrafts and buy Indian goods – while it once or more stages Navratri dolls exhibitions or seasonal Sale periods, all of these catching up well with the audience as their staff makes an effort to help the visitor feel at ease and make an informed choice.

Diagonally opposite, on the NSC Bose Road, you will find men/women vendors who line this busy stretch with human activity buzzing about them. Perfumes, apparel –both new and second-hand, home needs, stationery, fancy items, CD-stalls, or vada and tea stall, fresh-juice carts, all find a place here.

The showcase at this busy N.S.C bose road will now invariably prepare you for what lies inside – really an Alladin’s cave for every one who loves shopping. As you set out to discover more points to shop at, you cannot miss the Olympic’s multi-storeyed building at the Anderson street – a one-stop that offers dedication solution for your wedding preparation.  

Wholesome Prices at Whole Sale Shops

Roopam Fancy Store’s owner Vimlesh says that many people come to shop in Parry’s. Culture, socio-economic and geographical aspects, none of these factors stop the crowd that constitutes the customers I get here, he says. As individual streets specialize in one particular product, it is an important factor that helps the bulk buying process, he adds.  

The Anderson street and Malayaperumal street specialize in paper and plastic wares,  you can find shops dedicated to different aspects of the product - gift wrappers, diaries and school notebooks, fancy and expensive hand made paper. You can buy at wholesale prices stationery goods from shops at closer vicinity such as the Office Equipment stationery shop. It is wise to navigate through the perennial rush in the busy interiors on Tuesdays as the church crowd is at its peak,  incase you want to finish a quick shopping.

Arshad who runs a shop - Popular Plastic Pack says business is at its peak during the wedding season in town and there is otherwise a great demand from hotels and caterers for everyday items such as plastic cups, spoons and plates. At Kasi Chetty street, on the other hand, is where you can see the latest in everything –from  key chains, toys, cosmetics and gifts to leather products.

On the other side of these narrow lanes, is the optical paradise. Shops, big and small such as Mahaveer Optical,  Amar  or Sri Karni Mata line Broadway most of these are open well beyond 7.30 pm. Broadway occupies monopoly status in the business of optical wear. And in order to stay in the game, some of the big brands such as Vijay’s Optical have sought to open their shops here in order to b e a part of the game.

 Rattan Bazaar, at the other side of the N.S.C bose road, has an enclave of textile shops lining at the main road itself. Some of the well-known of them for so many years being the T.Mangharam’s, whereas a recently opened showroom, Vijay’s Tex is as popular for women’s dress materials and ready-made wear.  But even today, if you want to indulge in the sheer texture and color of textile, once in a lifetime visit to the Elephant Gate Street and the Godown Street is a must!

It is here that you find established names such as Ethirajulu Naidu, M.A Jacob’s and Vishweshwara. If you are adventurous, then you will go exploring the small shops in the interior of the busy Rattan Bazaar area, where you can pick imported version of all your home needs at a bargain price.  

The business of life that is in Parry’s

Perfumes, apparel – new and second-hand, home needs, stationery, fancy items, Cd-vendors, mosambi and cut-mango sellers, all find a place in the busy by-lanes of Parry’s. With so much human activity buzzing about, you wonder what makes it special for all these men and women to go about their business of life day after day here.

I speak to a second-hand clothes seller at the N.S.C bose road, and this is what he tells me. “Of the more than ten lac footfalls that the road sees everyday, about a few would definitely show some interest in my wares. To see what best the day would bring to me, is what keeps me coming here everyday,” he says.  

Even as I have a great fascination for fragrances, I have my skepticism about the long-lastingness of them even as you can see so many of them having stacked up in every major by-lane here. I anyway did check out the fragrance that was in the fancy green POISON bottle – that the shopkeeper was ready to give me a bargain price.

And even though the perfume on my wrist, did not linger for a long while, I took home with me the smile of the perfume-vendor, which has been the best experience of shopping in the by-lanes of Parry’s.

- Alifia M.B.V

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