Spencer Plaza, Shopping mall in Anna Salai, Chennai, India
Spencer Plaza is a multi-story shopping center on Anna Salai in Chennai, spreading across eight floors. The facility houses hundreds of shops alongside office space and includes parking for hundreds of vehicles.
Charles Durant and J. W. Spencer built a department store here in 1863, which was destroyed by fire in 1983. The reopening as a modern shopping center took place in 1991 and changed the retail landscape of the city.
The mall takes its name from a nineteenth-century colonial department store and marks the beginning of modern Indian retail history. Today the complex blends global brands with local shops selling saris, jewelry, and South Indian textiles.
Visitor flow increases significantly during festivals and holidays, so weekday visits work better. Parking fills quickly on weekends, making an early arrival advisable.
Some shops on the upper floors carry Pashmina shawls and Rajasthani handicrafts that are hard to find elsewhere in Chennai. These stores attract collectors and visitors looking for traditional Indian crafts.
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