New Delhi, Wednesday, February 19, 2014
my city
htcity
THISHUB’SNOTA HOTSPOTANYMORE?
PHOTOS: WASEEM GASHROO
Many eateries at the village are empty most of the times
With several closed eateries, the once-talkedaboutHauzKhasVillageisa marketstrugglingtokeepitscrowdafloat Mahim Gupta n
mahim.gupta@hindustantimes.com
O
n taking a walk in the popular Hauz Khas Village area, we found that the once-sassy shopping complex is a pale shadow of its former self. After being hit by an order from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee in September last year, over 60 eateries in the market were shut down. While about half the number are back in operation, the other half are still closed. This is due to either lack of space to accommodate a huge pollution control plant or because of the cost of the whole process, running in lakhs.
With multi-cuisine r estaurants and designer outlets galore, the market was a favourite with people looking for an international palette or women wanting to trend up their wardrobe. But with the reduced eating options, the complex has had
dwindling number of visitors, affecting its overall reputation. The market losing its sheen in the last few months is a major setback for those earning their bread and butter at the complex. Kuber Rana, floor in-charge at an
Our business has come down by 50%. Once one of themosthappening markets, Hauz Khas Village is struggling now
There’s a big slump in thenumberofvisitors at the complex. We hardly have any new customers.Thosewho walk in at the store, are just window shopping
Kuber Rana, a restaurant employee
AnitaJain,managerinan — apparel store
The women apparel stores at the shopping complex are struggling to get walk-in customers eating joint, Pizzaria Rossa, tells us, “Our business has come down by 50%. Once, one of the most happening markets, the village is struggling now.” Resonating his thoughts, Anita Jain, store manager at a women’s apparel store, A Touch of Gold, adds, “There’s a big slump in the number of visitors at the complex. We hardly have any new customers. Those who walk in at the store, are just window shopping.” The view of the visitors is quite similar. “The market is not the same. There is less buzz. There is parking problem and some of my favourite restaurants have been shut,” says Mahima Chowdhary, a regular visitor to the area.
The market is not the same. There is less buzz. There is parking problem and some of my favourite restaurants have been shut
Mahima Chowdhary, a regular visitor
But as they say, nostalgia is hard to let go. “I have been coming here for 20 years. There are still several eating options. And of course, the setting at the village has an old-world charm that is irreplaceable,” says Rahul Kumar, a 36-year-old bank executive.