It has been several months since the character of Meherchand Market,which spelt old-world charm in memory and practice,began to change. There has been a steady arrival of niche fashion stores such as Ruh,Masaba,Khadi Line and Suruchi Jaipur,as well as organic food stores (that spell contemporary lifestyle chic) and cafes such as Nourish Organics,The Altitude Store and Bagel Cafe. Will it be the next Khan Market as optimistic shoppers insist or will the darzis and halwais here limit it to being a sleepy outpost? We decided to check it out. Meherchand Market,off Lodhi Road,is more than six decades old and might bewilder the lay shopper. It has a very interesting mix of labels and cafes but it would be hasty to term it posh. Among the linear row of bleak shops (grocers,tenthouses,recharge vendors and tailors),you find a few bright additions (a quirky art bookstore or an organic boutique). The two kinds share the same wall,but are seperated by years. We went there on a working afternoon and all we could spot initially was just three people sauntering up the steps of Ruchika Modis Katan Weaves. Inaugurated three months ago,the outlet sells handwoven saris,among other things. In stark contrast is Devi Tailors closeby. Scraps of cloth litter the floor and old shirts hang from pegs on the peeling walls. In the non-airconditioned environs,Devis men are busy. As the masterji cuts up a pair of old trousers,he looks at us. We say nothing. Weve been here for 50 years, he begins by way of introduction. Katan next door has done little to dent his views. Change is inevitable but that has hardly affected our business, he adds. It is Kunafa,an Arabic bakery that opened shop three months ago,which is run by Nasser Barakat from Palestine,that stands out for its distinct offerings. Their in-house Syrian chefs conjure delicious baklavas,pies and a variety of other sweets. A few shops away is Anna Muthulaxmi,Meherchands famous South Indian restaurant. Happy co-existence,yet again. This is the new Khan market. Ritu Kumar is setting up shop here, insists Inderjeet Singh,vice-president of the market association. The new Ritu Kumar boutique may push up the markets posh quotient alright,but in which other market would it share a wall with a half-a-century-old tailoring shop? Therein lies the rub.
