Lodhi market’s on a high

NEW DELHI: In the last four to five years, the kirana stores and the darzi market of yore situated at the centre of yellow-walled Lodhi colony are now the meeting point for the city’s swish set.

Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi patronise Chilly Season’s and Ploof, restaurants situated in the centre of the main market. The Mittal tea house is a favourite haunt of the embassy crowd and the Lodhi sport shop is the fitness store frequented by business households such as the Tatas, Birlas, Ansals and even politicians ranging in all age groups - from Varun Gandhi to Ram Vilas Paswan.

The sea change in the profile of the market has been accompanied by shooting prices which have touched an all time high after the Capital’s top designer destinations were brought under the MCD hammer. After the demolition of 1 and 2 MG Road, the scramble for ‘legal space’ amongst the designer fraternity has led to rates in the area sky-rocket in the last two months.

Ravi Jain, whose erstwhile departmental store of 1942 was first turned into a toy and sport shop is now a fully hi-tech gym store frequented by the likes of the Tatas, Birlas and Ansals as well as politicians.

“The changing profile of the market has also brought in a lot of changes in our monetary condition. Our business has grown 1000-fold since we began. Now, my shop sells equipment worth Rs 4 lakh and there are many takers for it.”