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Growing up in Allahabad there were some shops / dealers/ doctors which were/ who were somehow more well-known than others . Not sure if they are all there or not but here goes
Kohinoor Chemist with Mr Nanavati and Mr Tandon- both were friendly and helpful and were never afraid of prescribing medicines for common illnesses .
Kelnors- This was in the same line – Mr Beveridge was the proprietor – an old Anglo Indian gentleman who many will remember . Kelnors sold meat/ chicken/ fish products and was much in demand especially during Easter and Christmas
Gifts land – This was in the same line as Kohinoor- exquisite gifts of crystal or silver( not too sure ) but I vividly remember admiring them while passing by.
B R Tandon-Photography was his specialty - I know he is still there but now there are two shops with the same name so I am not sure which is which .
Kapoors is still there and they continue to deal in leather goods- a lovely shop .
Ladies Corner was another favourite and had ladies make up and sweets and biscuitsand torches and flasks and gifts – in fact thinking back , he had any number of articles and I visited that shop often .
Box Man- cross over from Ladies corner and there was the Box Man- Not sure if this was the name of the shop but that’s what we called him- buttons, thread, lace etc was what he dealt in – a narrow shop filled with so many ladies that small boys like me had to wait outside while the ladies went in to make purchases.
Flashlite took our wedding photographs and was very famous as well
Around the bend was Samson who I am sure is still running – a large hosiery store and very popular .
Robeson was where I had my first suit stitched and they say he had the latest styles and cuts
Plaza cinema was across the road and a number good movies were screened there including some very good English ones.
Kings and Co were a large Medical store at the bend and it was always packed. Also in Kings was
Dr Choudhary – I think he must have been seeing about 250 patients a day and either his charge was nil or hardly anything – he was always packed .
Who can forget Dr Bhattacharya- he was our family doctor and his was a quick cure – he never seemed to age and when I saw him a few years ago he still looked well.
Chopra shoes came much later, but became a well- known shop and was always packed as he had the latest shoes.
Central Dairy Farm or CDF sold all types of meat products and was a much sought after shop for the frozen meat and fish etc.
Up to date hair saloon was next and I visited it every month to have a haircut – it was a small shop but he did wonders with my hair and I think he made me and a number of others look good !
Sehgal stores and later Puneet Stores were side by side and both did a roaring business .
Law Book Depot was a dull shop for us kids but I remember seeing it frequented by lawyers in black coats !
About 25 meters away was Variety stores – remember going there to purchase gifts.
Rovers sports , Sweetmart , Fitwell and Kapoors ( shoes ) were all shops that were usually packed in the evenings – remember having Lassi, Gulab Jamuns and sweet curd at Sweetmart !
BN Rama was one of the most famous shops – had a lovely spot at the corner – big costly items and liquor as well – was sad to see rubble lying there so obviously the shop is no more .
Then there was Bata who needs no introduction and is still there and of course El Chico who has renovated/ expanded and whose food is still very tasty – however do remember that way back in the 60’s and 70’s it was far too costly to enter !
Palace cinema is there but closed – Beniprasad continues to hold fort – not sure how the workers manage to find anything – but one can get a needle and an elephant in that shop- he seems to have everything !
Universal Book stall was where we purchased all sorts of text and exercise books and registers .
Two Chinese shoe shops deserve to be in this list as well- Wanson near Universal ,and Fookson opposite Fitwell. Their Chines shoes were well known – However Wanson vanished overnight and so did Fookson – both mysteriously .
Some of these shops are still in Civil Lines while other owners have moved on .
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