Bangalore Retail Journey

chillibreeze writer — KC Komal

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If you are wondering why the newsletters have been more and more sporadic: it’s simple. Life gets routine no matter where you are, and the novelties that impelled me to write are now mundane! School imposes a routine with mind numbing regularity, and before the summer comes with the inevitable turnover of expats, you have your group of buddies to hang out with.

Even the glee with which expats reported seeing a newly available item on the grocery shelves is fading as Bangalore grows more and more cosmopolitan. Down the street from us is another branch of Spar, an international grocery giant with large, well lit, well organized stores that stock everything from Haagen Dazs icecream, to large wheels of exotic cheeses. Don’t get too excited about the ice cream though, a tub costs about Rs.700, which even at the optimistic rate of Rs. 40 a dollar came out to about $17! Whoa! More sightings in the Bangalore retail scene: Two newer malls called Total in the Sarjapur end of town. Modeled somewhat loosely after the discount department stores of the US, like Target and Wal-Mart, they stock everything from clothing of rather dubious quality, to well laid out and stocked shelves of groceries.

Somewhat more exciting, at least for the sweet toothed, is the arrival of the Donut Baker offering American style donuts with all the usual fillings and glazes like Maple Ice and jelly fillings. Further up the calorie ladder is the Fudge and Cream factory, modeled on the Marble Slab/Cold Stone model, where ice cream is plopped onto a cold marble slab and toppings and mix-ins are gently folded in, and then the whole, gooey, sweet mass is scooped into a bowl. While I itch to show the servers how they need to mash the toppings in, it still is a pretty decent dessert. May I suggest the Apple Crumble which is cookie crumbs, apple pie filling and cinnamon and caramel syrup pounded into a vanilla ice cream. And so the list goes on, from Rockport shoes in the Marathalli factory outlet to Kettle potato chips, the sightings of familiar brands grows by the day. Perhaps not critical for happiness in life, but sure is comforting to know the options are there.

Meanwhile it’s the doldrums of the year. Spring break is in the rear view mirror, and summer vacation is still a couple of months away. Bangalore is sweltering in a summer that may be moderate by the standards of other cities in India, but is still hotter than what Bangaloreans are used to. Watermelons and swimming pools feature largely in most lives but there is lethargy in the air and a reluctance to do anything more than the basics. Thanks to the local schools being on summer break, there are loads of children’s activities at the book stores and libraries. Several children’s movies are showing at the theatres and so at least there are a few family outings in the offing.

Finally, I guess everything becomes familiar and routine. Heat dulls the faculties and a drowsy numbness pains my sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk. Oh, alright, the words are Keats’, but you get the idea…

Hope you are staying cool this summer!

 

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—About our writer: KC refuses to limit herself to one label. Among the many hats she wears are: Full time mom, part time writer, teacher, chef, art collector, gardener, quilter and extremely good vacationer. She has lived in Northern California for close to 20 years and has spent most of those years stopping frequently to smell the roses and plant some lavender. After two decades in Silicon Valley her husband will be working from Bangalore. KC has two children, a 12 year old daughter and an 8 year old son.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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