Spencer Plaza Days
Years of annoying my friends, family, dates and anyone considerate enough to listen with how sad I feel about Spencer Plaza losing its charm and buzz as a mall made me write this. Actually one kind soul pointed out that if I feel so about it I should pen it. In reality it physically pains me when I see an amazing product/service not reaching its fullest potential and possibility. Or worse when a business spends unnecessarily on something and cuts cost on essentials. I have picked up arguments with many a business owner for overthinking their products more than them
Coming back to the story of Spencer Plaza it used to be one of the iconic buildings of Chennai. Spencer Plaza is the first ever mall built in India during the British colonization 1863–64 and rebuilt in 1985 and was one of the biggest shopping malls in South Asia when it was built….I am going to tell you my personal fascination of Spencer Plaza.
Part of my schooling was in Singapore, once we hit the shores of India my generally chilled out parents transformed into orthodox conservative yet well-meaning parents which meant I hadn’t stepped out of my neighborhood except to relative’s / family friends places till I completed my 12 th Grade. We did have some fun with Quiky’ the first coffee shop in Chennai and with Hot Breads, Chennai atlast experienced the bare minimum of what a cream pasterie should be. Tired of being uncool I decided that I was going to either study in Ethiraj or Stella. My over-protective dad felt like he was sending me to the moon and tried convincing me on the more sober and studious Meenakshi or JBAS.
Anyways long story short I threw some tantrums and joined Ethiraj. That’s when I was introduced to the beauty that Spencer Plaza is. Directionally challenged me remembered every nook and corner of that place. I used to stand by and be fascinated by the way businesses ran. The rush of the registers and the soft pace with which people looked around and shopped leisurely as though they had no hurries and worries. I loved the unique smell Spencer Plaza had and how it always had something in all budgets. There was Shree Mithai. There was Archie’s. There was Subway, infact Spencer Plaza was home to the first food court in Chennai. It had clean fresh smelling loos which were as rare as an unicorn in a public place. I love that you could walk around and enjoy the surroundings. You could be invisible and blend with the crowd if you wanted to or be the drama queen you truly are. The fairy tale continued with my first job too being in the corporate lobby of Spencer Plaza. There wasn’t a single day I wouldn’t proudly strut in Spencer Plaza as though I owned it.
I so wish Spencer Plaza had found a way to revive itself. Perhaps it still can…a huge convenience departmental store, or well organised community activities , an indoor children’s play area where parents can drop their children for a charge , a huge sprawling library for people to get lost in the wonderland of books. The city has lots of classes and activities for children but very less to offer for healthy productive adult recreational activities. Spencer Plaza could change that and make Victor Gruen proud by being the community space he envisioned malls to be. We urban beings would love his concept of a third space to replenish ourselves ( the first being home and workspace or WFH space) Chennai can always do with more fun indoor climate controlled environments as we live in perennial heat. In my alternate life I am a Brand strategist I can help with the How and How much if required
Who doesn’t love the story of a place which was forlorn and restored back to its past glory
