Hi, I was back in Kochi, so to speak( I had visted and RRced the reviews on the forum mall and reached malls In Kochi) and I saw the new heading of Malls and Stores and found only one entry for mall in Kochi and that was "Sheemati"
A few points here:
#1: "Sheemati" is not a mall, its a big textile store, been there since bygone ages(I guess)
#2: Its written "Seematti" NOT "Sheematti"(Ugh!, where does MS get the names from anyway?)
#3: Kochi has only one "Mall", which is rather small to call a mall, but nonetheless, is called the "Bay Pride Mall", if MS puts up this in the mall category, I'll write a review on it.there are also a few other ones, too small to call malls though. there is that shopping centre opposite the old menaka theatre and the Penta Menaka "Mall" though they really can't ne compared with a genuine, honest-to-goodness mall like the Forum or the malls in Gurgaon.leave alone the American monsters.
OK, now back to Sheematti, or sorry, I meant Seematti!
Location:*
Seematii is a big textile shop, anyone from Kochi can tell you where it is, at the northern end of MG road on the right. Almost every town in India has an MG road, from Pondicherry to Bangalore and Kochi is no exception. Well, if you drive to the north end of MG road, you'll find it before Allukas jewellery. The main(old) shop faces the front, but they have a large6 or 7 storied main building behind that housed the main shop. The old shop was a small two storied affair, which now houses the reception, cash and delivery and some odds and ends clothing
History:
Named after the sister of the founder, Sri. Veeraiah Reddiar in 1910, according to the seemati website
https://keralainternetdirectory.com/index.php?action=jump&jumpto=233
Sections:*
Saree Sansar: I went here long ago and they have a nice collection of sarees of all types, I'll not claim any exalted knowledge here, but experts(read, my mother, sister and wife) are known to comment on its wide range and lovely selection
Mens studio:
Ah, this I can comment on! It is a large, full floor of menswear, with all branded items from Louis Philip, Van Heusen to Indigo nation and what not. What I like most about Mens studio is the sense of space there. there is a mall like feel which is lacking in other mens wear shops in Kochi, the sense of lots of space is really nice and not seen in other shops, for instance, in Parthas.
Other sections
Dress circle
Ready to wear: Nice reasonably priced ladies tops here
Kids wear: Ok, but pricy, I feel
Furnishing: I really can't comment
Service:
Not too bad, not exceptionally good. Mainly NRTs(Non resident Tamilians) They speak good malayalam, but I prefer to speak Tamil, so as to keep my little knowledge of the language from atrophying
Car Parking;*
Lots of space. you pay 20 bucks(or was it 50?, no, it was 20!) and they refund it to you on your bill. You can enter via MG road and exit via Chitoor road. The parking is a major plus and there is plenty of it
Value for money*
Not really, but there are several items which are. not many good deals in Mens wear, which I can comment about, but I did buy some reasonably priced kurtis for my wife(200-400)
So, to sum up, "Seematti" is not a mall, there is no food court(like in Kalyan Silks) and those expecting a mall will be sorely dissapointed. But you do get a pretty vast textile shop and a reasonably good ambience. You won't be crowded out or have " Paatis'(grandmothers) sitting on the floor as in Saravanas store or Pothi's in Chennai( That always psyches me out when I go there!)
So MS management, put in "The Bay pride Mall" and the mall behind St Theresa's college in the list(what was it called) and name it properly as "Seematti"
Please leave a comment if you have the time. it really means a lot to me and most others here!
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