Time and tide wait may not wait for anybody. And, Madras too has become Chennai. But these brands have meant the same for very many years to very many people. And, surely they have become a part of their lives.
The first stop
It came into existence in 1849. Yet, P. Orr & Sons is the first stop for Chennaites to keep their watches ticking. Today, it houses the world’s best watch brands under its clock tower building on Anna Salai. A little further up is Higginbotham’s, the oldest traditional bookstore, standing majestically in the e-commerce era. One could wake up to the Leo Coffee (A.R. Rahman composed jingles for the brand) even today. A homemaker in Chennai spends more time with Butterfly even to this day.
For many of the women of the city, Nalli is a key stop in the search for silks. And a jar of Amrutanjan, originally made in a corner of Luz, can be found on many a shelf in Chennai.
Yet another long time tenant on Anna Salai — Poppat Jamal and Sons — was opened in 1901 in George Town and is still the most-frequented outlet for high-end cookery and glassware.
That they have survived to thrive today gives a clue not only about their quality but also the trust they inspire.
Not surprisingly, they have a unique place in the minds of many.