Shopping malls.... again
It's not the first time I have written about them and it won't be the last.
Sigh! Shopping Malls - do I love them, do I detest them, am I just relieved they exist? I don't know. But I'm certainly not indifferent to them.
Somewhere between the nostalgia of my childhood street markets in Delhi and the recently discovered awesomeness of an air-conditioned shopping mall in humidity-laden Mumbai lie my true feelings about this commercial edifice.
Like all things American the idea of concentrated shopping has been branded, packaged and sold well to the world. India is no exception. It works because, you know what, it's practical. So what has changed since my very first post on this blog. Not much in theory.
A new mall opens in an Indian city. Residents are attracted like moths to fire. They burn money and time and everyone goes home happy and content. I'm surprised yoga still exists. Surely nirvana is achieved in a post-mall trip.
As half of India continues its multi-decadal journey from semi-rural districts to the city, there will always be a bunch of people who will find the 'maall' cool. The place to see and be seen at. Like in every Indian mall, in Pune too the food courts at the top are busiest. The local mid-range brands do well. The international brand shops are sparsely occupied but they only need a few large sales to call it a day. I think to myself, can there be one shopping mall too many? Not in Delhi! A new mall opens and there is gridlock outside even before the concrete has set in.
There is however a 'Mortuary of Malls' that exists everywhere. Call it competition or just the fickle nature of the shopper. Commercial developers beware. This generation is growing up on low attention span and exciting new flings. As soon as the new mall opens, the old is forgotten. There are a few forlorn ones in every city I've lived in so far.
Today I won't moan about the chaos at the check-out counters in most Indian malls (Horrendously slow. Deserves another post). I'll also ignore some awkward personal mall-etiquette moments (Thane). But I'll keep the happy surprises and good company (Vashi, roof top), some good laughs (Mumbai again, RCity), a relaxed solo coffee (Bangalore) and some trendy shopping (Delhi of course!).
For better or worse malls are here to stay in the urban jungle.
Sigh! Shopping Malls - do I love them, do I detest them, am I just relieved they exist? I don't know. But I'm certainly not indifferent to them.
Somewhere between the nostalgia of my childhood street markets in Delhi and the recently discovered awesomeness of an air-conditioned shopping mall in humidity-laden Mumbai lie my true feelings about this commercial edifice.
Like all things American the idea of concentrated shopping has been branded, packaged and sold well to the world. India is no exception. It works because, you know what, it's practical. So what has changed since my very first post on this blog. Not much in theory.
A new mall opens in an Indian city. Residents are attracted like moths to fire. They burn money and time and everyone goes home happy and content. I'm surprised yoga still exists. Surely nirvana is achieved in a post-mall trip.
As half of India continues its multi-decadal journey from semi-rural districts to the city, there will always be a bunch of people who will find the 'maall' cool. The place to see and be seen at. Like in every Indian mall, in Pune too the food courts at the top are busiest. The local mid-range brands do well. The international brand shops are sparsely occupied but they only need a few large sales to call it a day. I think to myself, can there be one shopping mall too many? Not in Delhi! A new mall opens and there is gridlock outside even before the concrete has set in.
There is however a 'Mortuary of Malls' that exists everywhere. Call it competition or just the fickle nature of the shopper. Commercial developers beware. This generation is growing up on low attention span and exciting new flings. As soon as the new mall opens, the old is forgotten. There are a few forlorn ones in every city I've lived in so far.
Today I won't moan about the chaos at the check-out counters in most Indian malls (Horrendously slow. Deserves another post). I'll also ignore some awkward personal mall-etiquette moments (Thane). But I'll keep the happy surprises and good company (Vashi, roof top), some good laughs (Mumbai again, RCity), a relaxed solo coffee (Bangalore) and some trendy shopping (Delhi of course!).
For better or worse malls are here to stay in the urban jungle.
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