The ‘new’ Mehar
Chand Market
Located in Lodhi colony in New Delhi, six-decade-old Mehar Chand market and its 150 odd stores remained in oblivion for a long time, mainly because of its vicinity to the popular and posh Khan Market and Defence Colony market. All that is slowly changing. Realising the potential of its location – upmarket residential areas of Jorbagh, Defence Colony, Golf Links, Sundar Nagar and numerous bungalows of the Lutyens zone are only a few kilometres away – many niche stores like CMYK, Nourish Organics, 1010 Nail Spa and The Altitude Store have opened in the recent past and are changing the face of Mehar Chand Market – from the quaint retro shopping enclave once famous for its tailoring shops, to being the next Khan Market for the rich and fashionable.
TEXT BY TREESHA DATTA / ILLUSTRATION BY DILBAG SINGH CMYK: A first-of-its-kind concept bookstore that houses a gamut of illustrated books dedicated to art and design. The store is also used as a dynamic space to support and promote the works of upcoming creative individuals. Feeling peckish after your book hunt? Head upstairs to their cafe.
NOURISH ORGANICS: Conceptualised and owned by Seema Jindal Jajodia, Nourish Organics, like the name suggests, sells an array of organic and nutritious ready-to-eat snacks, nuts, health bars, and a range of ‘super-foods.’
PLAY CLAN: With India as their eternal muse, Play Clan combines art, design and fashion to create collections in home décor, apparel, gifts and stationery. A must-visit for those with a love for all things quirky.
THE CHEESE BALL: Flanders Dairy Products have been synonymous with great cheese for years now. Their store at Mehar Chand, called the Cheese Ball, is a treasure trove for turophiles. From cheddar to mozzarella, smoked gouda, Danish blue, mixed herb gouda, bocconcini – they have them all. Say cheese!
Shop No. 15-16 / 011-2464 1881 / rolibooks.com
Shop No. 17 / 011-2464 4393 / theplayclan.com
FAB INDIA: One of its many outlets in the country, Fab India is a home-grown chain store that retails garments, furnishings, fabrics and ethnic products, hand-made by craftspeople across rural India.
Shop No. 21-22 / 011-4905 1501–03 / fabindia.com
Shop No. 25 / 9810 400 778 / nappadori.com
Shop No. 31 / 011-2465 3789 / flandersdairy.com
KUNAFA: All of you with a sweet tooth need to visit Kunafa – a Mediterranean sweet store. All sweets and confectionery are prepared by expert Syrian and Jordanian chefs using premium quality nuts, dry fruits (especially dates & figs) and other ingredients, all sourced from the Middle East. A perfect Diwali treat.
Shop No. 70 / 011-49050 644 / kunafa.in
CHEZ NINI: If you are a true Francophile, then
you must already know Chez Nini – the charming
French bistro with a delectable menu. An endeavour
of Montreal-born Nira Singh, Chez Nini’s cosy
Shop No. 79-80 / 011-4905 0665 - 666
MASABA: Designer Masaba Gupta, daughter of cricketing legend Vivian Richards and actress Neena Gupta, has her namesake store in this market. The brand is all about bold feminism in Indian weaves, and, since its launch in 2009, has consistently worked for the betterment of weavers across southern India.
Shop No. 103 / 8447 470 950, (Nanda Bhat) / houseofmasaba.com
THE ALTITUDE STORE: For the healthconscious shopper, this store stocks a range of organic natural products from across India which are cultivated and processed without the use of chemicals. You can shop online and get your stuff home-delivered.
Shop No. 110 / 011-4905 0404 / thealtitudestore.com
EXHIBIT D: After a stint in London, home-accessory and product designer Gautam Dhawan returned to India and opened his first design studio by the name of Exhibit-D. They offer customised design services for those interested, however his very creative, original pieces are enough to entice and drool-worthy.
Shop No. 122-123 / 011-4905 2210 / exhibitd.in
NOV — DEC 2012
NAPPA DORI: The name literally means ‘leather and thread’ and the same is designer Gautam Sinha’s muse. Their bright and colourful leather and metal trunks won the hearts of many. In their new store in Mehar Chand Market they have these, plus a lot more variety of wearable bags, other home and fashion accessories and gifts.
Shop No. 30 / 011-4905 1184 /
nourishorganicfoods.com
and simple interiors and a blend of French food with comfort cooking will keep you coming back for more.