Vegetable vendor, Malleswaram market

A Family Legacy

My name is N. Shivakumar. I am 44 years old now and have been in the vegetable business my whole life. I'm the third generation in my family to do this work—my grandfather and father were in this business decades ago.

My family's original shop was near 8th Cross, close to the college, where we sold vegetables, flowers, decorations, and fruits. Unlike that area where you could get clothes, bangles, and other such items, our shop was just for fresh produce.

Waiting for the Promised Market

I have been at this current market for the past 11-12 years, where they gave us a temporary shop while promising a new complex that still hasn't come. There have been consistent delays, and we are not sure when the new market will be ready.

What Was Lost in the Move

Moving from our old place to here brought big changes to how we do business and how customers shop. Our original market was behind the Anjaneya temple at Sappin Saal, where we had a good routine. 

Vegetables would come from Hebbal early morning, and we'd finish selling everything by 12:30 or 1:00 PM. Our elderly customers liked the old place because it was easier to walk around, and there were no steps to climb. They often tell me, "Why are you changing? It was good earlier for us to walk, it was 'first class'!"

Changing Tastes, Changing Times

I have seen how much the vegetable business has changed over the years, and it shows how people's tastes have changed too. Before, customers would buy two items for 25 paise, and three large brinjals cost only 50 paise. Now we get smaller vegetables at much higher prices. Then we have newer organic produce coming in—colored capsicum in red and yellow, broccoli, and lettuce. No one knew about these earlier, but now there is a demand for both local and organic items.

Adapting to Survive

I have adapted my business model to meet changing customer demands, particularly the growing preference for home delivery services. I maintain refrigerated storage at home and supply produce to customers across Jayanagar, JP Nagar, Lumbini Gardens, Brigade Gateway, and Orion Mall. These long-standing customer relationships have sustained my business. They are my old customers, and even though they are getting older now, they still buy from us with no problem, and we continue to supply them.

Dangerous Intersections

However, our current location presents ongoing challenges, particularly regarding safety and accessibility. The busy intersection creates dangerous conditions for both vendors and customers—traffic is unpredictable and makes the area unsafe. You can't tell when a bus is coming or when a car is approaching. People online complain about these conditions, but not much can be done. It is inconvenient and dangerous, not just for the customers, but for us vendors as well. I have to take care of my customers and the business, but that gets hard in a crowded place like this.

These are a few problems we face, but other than this, Malleswaram is a good place to be in. The business is also going well, and I have no tensions otherwise.