The recent “Midnight Sale” at a well-known city mall gave rise to a stampede-like situation on July 6 2022. Social media was roused by images of an assembled multitude, including women and children, swarming the shopping mall to purchase items on sale for 50% off. Quoting a quip to describe the severity of the situation, “Coronavirus would have gotten squished”, is both laughable and alarming!
The midnight sale was available to the public from 11:59 p.m. on July 6 till the daybreak of July 7. People seized the chance and assembled in huge hordes; bewildering videos of these gatherings are now trending on social media. Some people described the sale as Kerala’s “Black Friday,” while others laughed at the emerging memes. The discussion afterwards left just one unanswered question: Is Kochi soon to become a city that never sleeps?
Table of contents
Is Kochi Soon Becoming a City that Never Sleeps?
Kochi’s night life is pretty simple in a city that takes an early start to their beds, by 10 p.m. With well-known and bustling shopping hubs, MG Road and Broadway, pulling down their shutters, it’s safe to say night life in Kochi is quite lacking. Initiatives to animate the after-dark hours, like the “Cochin Night Shopping” carnival, attracted a throng initially but failed to maintain the excitement.
C J George, President of Ernakulam Market Stall Owners’ Association, commented on the incident that a staff shift structure must be put in place for the Nightlife Shopping to flourish. However, this would require the employer to hire more staff. He also added that, additionally, owners would have to offer female employees transportation facilities. Another concern is the added electricity costs. It would be challenging for store owners when foot traffic isn’t great, even during the day.
He reiterated that the majority of the Kochi population has a fairly simple lifestyle; therefore, people don’t appear eager to venture outside at night, making Kochi’s night life pretty non-existent. George continues that Retail sales have also been declining recently as more and more individuals choose to shop online. Malls and supermarkets have also affected physical stores. He even posed the question, will there be enough consumers if shops open their doors late at night?
Convent Junction’s Goodwill collecting manager, Tommy Joseph, claims that keeping stores open late would be a “waste of time and electricity.” He commented that during the holidays, “We had kept our shop open until 11 pm, but the reaction was not fantastic,”. “Those who plan to buy would arrive by 8 o’clock. The remainder of visitors are people who merely want to wander around or hang out.
Ebenezer Chullikkatt, a lawyer and member of the Greater Cochin Development Watch, claims that Kochi cannot be compared to other major cities. The Kochi workforce works primarily 9 to 5 jobs. They would not be drawn to night shopping, he continues. “The notion would be appealing to folks who work irregular hours. However, they make up a very minor percentage of the population. Because many people work into the night in other places, the nightlife is required.
After 8:30 p.m., a sizable portion of Kochi, in his opinion, enters the “slumber stage.” “People with greater money tend to like nights like in Kochi. And they would have more opulent requirements. But they would only make up a small percentage of the total population. According to Ebenezer, the city is not yet prepared for vibrant nightlife, considering the majority’s work schedule and salary scale.
Additionally, nighttime basic transportation options are almost nonexistent. Even if a system could be set up, it would be quite expensive. Operating for a tiny crowd is not practical for the service providers.
see also – Travelling Guide for the Scenic Six-lane Highway – NH 66
Night Owls of Kochi- The Techies
Those who want to not go gently into that good night have found some solace in the news that the government is allowing additional pubs, particularly for the IT sector. The 11 p.m. limit is a deterrent to night owls, who stay up late in search of more scares and thrills. Robin Alex Panicker, the co-founder of Finnotes and venture partner at Unicorn India Ventures, claims that there is hardly any night life in Kochi. “From a commercial standpoint, it is discouraging, especially when clients or investors come to our city. The culture of nightlife changes with time. Government should decide whether to support it or not.”
He continues, “A socialising atmosphere is crucial for an industry like IT. There should be more pubs and breweries. The concept of social drinking is something that our society lacks. A good strategy should be in place. The best approach would be to pick a few stretches and start participating in nightlife activities,” suggests Robin.
To Sum it Up!
To imagine Kochi as a city that never sleeps is a long haul, but the city can move toward a more happening nightlife at a slower pace. The recent incident of people turning up to the mall in massive numbers at the midnight sale reaffirms that Kochi’s night life is witnessing a shift from a sleepy sloth to a sloth that sometimes wants to have a little fun.
