May 17, 2005 12:52 PM
18517 Views
(Updated May 30, 2005 08:57 AM)
SHOPPING MALL
NIRMAL LIFESTYLES
Shopping Malls are a relatively new market place. I went to USA in 1984-85 and had my first visit to a Shopping Mall (SM). I was in Memphis, Tennessee, USA and a colleague took me to a SM on the outskirts of the city. I had had no idea of a shopping mall till then. But then it was a great experience; big department stores, small speciality stores, eateries all in sort of one campus. Well, shopping malls were just beginning to take shape and become favourite shopping destinations. I do not remember the name of the mall but it was a huge affair having big well known department stores and smaller outlets. Then I happened to go to St. Louis in Missouri. There a huge railway station and yard was being converted into a shopping delight. I say shopping delight from the conceptualization and size of the place as I saw it then. (A friend whose daughter lives in St Louis and has therefore been to the city is all praise for the mall). After this I went visiting my brother in Schaumburg in Illinois. This Mall was upper crust and beautifully designed and laid, located near US-Canada border. These malls are so huge and spread out that visitors/shoppers are expected to get tired and so there are benches to relax and food courts/plaza to relax and eat light or heavy. There is a lot of choice too in these food corners from fast food items to regular meals and ice cream parlours.
In India Shopping Malls are just beginning to come up. But they are coming up with a vengeance as if to kick start and make up for the lost period. Delhi and Bangalore are having many malls which are heavily patronised, I am told. In Mumbai, the first one I saw was at Lower Parel in Phoenix Mill Compound. It was still taking shape when I saw first three years back. The Big Bazaar was in place and very popular. There were a few other stores and small eating places. Then I saw on in New Mumbai; Center One. Center One is small, has many Company outlets, Big Bazaar and a food plaza. It is kind of cute little place to go to shop and eat too. Nirmal Lifestyle Shopping Mall is located in the eastern suburb of Mulund in Mumbai. Mulund has two SMs. The R mall and the Nirmal Lifestyles Mall. Both are good for shopping and likeable. But Nirmal Lifestyles is a huge one and still coming up. It has our big stores like Shoppers Stop, Pentaloon, and outlets by most apparel manufacturers; Wills, Reebok, Levis, Louis Philippe, Provogue and so on. There is also a dollar shop, which now is common in all malls! A big Bata Store and some other shoe outlets. Among the restaurants there is Sachin’s (Cricketer Tendulkar’s), McDonald's and Pizza Hut besides many other smaller ones. We had lunch at Sachin’s and liked it. The ambience is good and so is food. The seating is well laid out and not crowded. Indo-Pak one day series was on and Pizza Hut was giving special discount (one free with the purchase of a medium size on. It still comes to about Rs.250/- or). We enjoy eating Pizza anyway and so patronized this one. You get 'jellopino', babycorn, and other toppings!
But the real fun and delight in Nirmal Lifestyles is the Shoprite Hyper-the food store. It is not only huge but attractively laid out and reminds one of similar food stores in the USA. One can spend any amount of time in these stores. First take a round to see what is available and what you have to buy (everything is available). You will definitely end up buying a lot, particularly if you are a first timer! It will take quite a while. Like the Western countries they have good size carts available to go on putting your picks. The markets are Global now and so you have items from all over; USA, Europe and the Arab world. The fruit section has all kind of fruits from many countries. Not only apples and pears, but even watermelon and many others are stacked enticingly! For items sold by weight there is weighing facility and the attendant seals the produce in a sack and puts the weight sticker. Then you go to the register and pay quickly.
There is fun too to enjoy the eatery kiosks in the rather sprawling compound. Ice cream, sandwich, popcorn, and other parlors from where one can buy and either sit down or eat while strolling. In fact evenings attract large number of ‘picnickers’ who just come and enjoy the rarefied, clean, inviting environ where one can stroll, relax, sit and enjoy a snack or two with your beloved or family equally easily.
NIRMAL LIFESTYLE is recommended both for a visit as well as for shopping.
