Semma Chennai Vibes - About Old Curiosity Shop
SEMMA CHENNAI VIBES
KYSC - Know Your Super Chennaiite
Meet Mr. Lateef whose father G. Mohamad founded the store named Old Curiosity Shop during the British era on Mount Road, Chennai, opposite Spencer Plaza. This was in the 1940s. "Spencer's was the first departmental store and Connemara was the first noteworthy hotel here," he adds. Lateef began spending more time in the store as a boy, and loved speaking to people who walked in to the shop. They hailed from various parts of the world. He says he learned a lot from those visitors.
He has been at the helm of the store for around 50 years! “These 50 years are so vivid they seem like yesterday to me”, smiles Mr. Lateef.
He describes The Old Curiosity Shop as a ‘one of its kind shop’ offering hobby-based trinkets and memorabilia. “It’s a place where you can express your love for history.
There’s a lot of history in this shop. We have the biggest and great collection of first editions of old books, a nice collection of vinyls, and a good number of clocks - time is a good conversation.”
Oh and he mentioned that “Half the shop is not for sale”!! Now, how curious is that!
You will love a visit to this unique store with its old-world vibes and innumerable trinkets, and you’ll definitely enjoy the quotes and proverbs that have been put up here and there amidst the keepsakes. I did.
- Sujata Tarakesan
Founder, Chennaigaga (R)
Mr. Lateef took the trouble to get the exact Tamil
meaning of his shop’s name and here it is 👆🏼
Semma Chennai Vibes is an endeavour to capture the awesome energy of Chennai and KYSC or Know Your Super Chennaiite is a peek in to some amazing Chennai-based folks.