Once a shopping hub, traders in Majestic now hardly see customers

A file photo of Alankar Plaza on K.G. Road in Bengaluru.

For many old-time Bengalureans, Janata Bazaar and Alankaar Pearl Plaza in Majestic were the prime shopping centres before the advent of malls in the city. Be it these large shopping spaces or the streets where everything from a pencil to electronic gadgets, Majestic was a shopping hub that offered everything customers needed, right in the middle of the city.

In a way, these spaces and streets still offer those things, but the takers are very few. Outside the Kempegowda Bus Station, towards K.G. Road, hundreds of shops selling clothes, footwear, jewellery, stationery, earphones, chargers and much more can be found at every crossroad. On a weekday afternoon, the crowd was thin. But the sellers said that such is the scenario on most days. 

“Even five years ago, we used to get more customers. But now, we get some customers only during festivals. Otherwise, one or two college students come now and then,” said Afreen, who was selling clothes on one of the crossroads.

The same fate has befallen Sri Raj Stationeries, a well-established shop in the area. “There are stationery shops in every area now. It is not like before when they had to come here to get everything in one place at good prices. Business is down by almost 70% – 80% and only our old customers come. We do not get walk-ins anymore,” said Rahul R., the owner of the store. 

Janata Bazaar and Alankar Plaza 

In the middle of Majestic, on opposite sides, are the famous shopping spots Janata Bazaar and Alankaar Pearl Plaza. While the former was probably the first supermarket of Bengaluru, the latter was almost like a mall. “We used to get a lot of shoppers, especially government employees from the Central Business District (CBD) who would come to buy their monthly needs like soaps, shampoos, incense sticks and textiles among other things. But now most are not even aware of the Bazaar,” said a salesperson there. The building, which is a century old, looks a little dingy now with very little activity.

In Alankaar Plaza, where there are a little over 300 shops, mostly selling clothes, at least 50 have shut shop due to financial losses. “Nobody needs shops for clothes anymore. Online markets have taken over. While those from Bengaluru rarely pay a visit here anymore, those from other cities like Tumakuru come here as we offer the best rates for clothes especially worn for functions. For those who live here, the experience of shopping here is not worth the traffic that it will take to get here from other parts of the city,” said Ashok, a member of Alankaar Pearl Plaza Owners’ Association.

While remembering their shopping days in Majestic with nostalgia, shoppers say that they do not find the need to go there for shopping anymore. “Around 15 years ago, our festive season started with a visit to Majestic to buy clothes for all the upcoming festivals. My parents believed that the best prices were available there. Today, each e-commerce site offers better deals than the other, and I can get clothes delivered to my house, return them, and exchange without travelling far,” said Deeksha Joshi, a content writer.