Blowing new-age wind of shopping culture

Blowing new-age wind of shopping culture
The Times of India

Bangalore: If Katriguppe has not been on your frequenting list for even less than a year, the place is a sure surprise now. The area, that was not-so a happening place till some months ago, is suddenly blowing the new-age wind with classy stretches of hip and happening establishments, as if vying to get noticed alongside commercial hubs of Brigade Road and its neighbourhood.

The stretch, alongside Outer Ring Road of Banashankari III stage, is short but is a definite landmark that is suddenly redefining bazaar culture for Bangalore’s southern corridors.

The ubiquitous, scattered small shops and cloth stores are being pushed into oblivion on the Katriguppe junction. The sea of change has come with the Pantaloons, Fab Malls, Indigo Nations and Zodiacs and many more wanting to pitch tents along Katriguppe Circle right up to to Devegowda petrol bunk and Chennammanakere Achchukattu located on either side of the Ring Road.

Three years ago, it was the Food World that had set its shop at the junction. After an array international brands giving a cosmopolitan look to the place, the latest entrant into the commercial destination is the sprawling four-storeyed Big Bazaar with a swanky eat out on the ground floor. A massive electronics showroom is expected to forge its way into the new landmark location soon.

Restaurants like Beijing Bites and Cafe Coffee Day are becoming popular hang-outs for avid shoppers and college crowd, shifting space from the traditional hang-out spots of “Brigades and MGs”. For many, Katriguppe is turning out to be another Marathahalli with several factory outlets in the area. Growing land price: Predictably, real estate rates in the Katriguppe-Vivekanandanagar belt around the junction has exploded over the last one year. Newly laid sites in Vivekananadanagar which fetched about Rs 20 lakh just six months ago is now being settled for Rs 45 lakh and above. However, some feel that there would be more scope for growth only if there were better roads and adequate parking spaces in the area.