first is steam car ,2nd and 4th also steam cars 3rd and 5 th petrol cars
Described
as the most magnificent department store in the East, it was designed
by W.N. Pogson and inaugurated in 1895. It was commissioned by Eugene
Oakshot, who joined John William Spencer as a partner in J.W. Spencer
& Co. in 1871 and took over the firm in 1882. The vehicle in the
foreground (picture) was called a steam lorry. The old building was an
example of Indo-Saracenic style of architecture.
The
building was destroyed because of a fire accident in 1983. A
businessman from Jakarta, late Washy Sadarangani, along with another
businessman M Balasubramaniam, took over the land, and started
constructing the building that exists now, in 1987. Later, Chellaram
from Singapore joined the team as a stakeholder and realised the dream
that is Spencer Plaza. The mall has four phases, which were constructed
over a period of time (the final phase was constructed in 2001).
In
1991, there was no ‘anchor store' concept. There was not even any big
retail brand of the stature of a Big Bazaar, a Shoppers' Stop, Land Mark
or Lifestyle. When these big retailers came up, the mall could not rope
them in since the management had already sold the retail space to
various entities, and hence failed to ensure an attractive brand-mix and
zoning. So, the mall, unfortunately, is not very relevant to the
current times.
