Footfall spikes at cafes & pubs: Biz booms for Kolkata florists, restos on V-Day

Kolkata celebrated the day of love in a big way, bringing smiles to the faces of florists, café and pub owners and restaurateurs. “Business was remarkable on Valentine’s Day. Youngsters flocked to restaurants, cafes and pubs from the afternoon till night,” said Sudesh Poddar, president of the Hotel and Restaurants Association of Eastern India.

‘It felt more like a weekend’
According to a February 15 report on the Times of India, food joints and pubs in the city saw a boom in business though it was a mid-week V-Day. “Despite being a working day for many, the footfall was very good. The thickest crowd flowed in after 9pm. We also had a live band performing so the vibe and ambience was a big turn on for all,” said Sweety Bol, co-owner of a city lounge. Nikhil Chawla, owner of two south Kolkata cafes, said the footfall made it feel more like a weekend. “It seemed to be a holiday on V-Day this year. Many had made prior reservations and ordered rose petal decorations and curated menus for their loved ones. The rush continued till midnight and most youngsters chose to wear red,” he added.

City girls put sisters before misters
Taking cue from Mindy and Emily from Emily in Paris and the Bold Type, girls in the city decided to put sisters before misters. “The footfall was 50% higher than what it usually is on a weekday. But what was remarkable was that girls came in gangs of 10 to 20 to celebrate the day,” said Satyaki Manna, managing partner of a city cafe.
"It was quite a galentine affair on Tuesday, the girls danced and sang to their hearts' content," Sandeep Gupta, a founder and CEO of a city baker and cafe.

Rosy day for city florists
Red roses ruled the day as usual. “We sold around 800 to 1,000 roses on Tuesday. No matter which flower is trending, every V-Day only red roses fly off the shelves,” said city florist Tapas, adding, “The price of one rose was between `60 and `90 depending on the variety.” According to another florist, Bablu Roy, they sold roses till late at night, as some office-goers bought them on the way home. “College goers were more interested in red roses while those above 35 preferred other flowers too. The board exams affected business a bit. We missed the school crowd,” he said. Ashish Sarawgee, another florist, said people were happy that rose prices haven’t risen since last year. “This year, we also had customers aged 30 or above, who spent on flowers. Overall business was good,” he added.

Friends, families joined in too
Kolkata, given its love for celebrations and food, also saw family members and friends rising to the ocassion and dining out. “It wasn’t just couples, even friends and families came in groups to celebrate the day,” said Swaralipi Banerjee from a south Kolkata pub.