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Long-standing shopping mall featuring an array of common retailers, along with eateries.

At a glance

#32 of 46 Shopping malls in Chennai

LocalGuideWorld score: 4.00

4.9 km from the center of Chennai

Rating breakdown

  • 5 ★38%
  • 4 ★32%
  • 3 ★22%
  • 2 ★6%
  • 1 ★3%
6th floor No 272, Seethakathi Business Centre, 688, Anna Salai, Thousand Lights East, Thousand Lights, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600006, India
Spencer Plaza, Chennai – photo 1
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Spencer Plaza, Chennai – photo 5
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Spencer Plaza, Chennai – photo 7
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Spencer Plaza, Chennai – photo 9
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Spencer Plaza, Chennai – photo 12

Quick facts

What is the rating of Spencer Plaza?
Spencer Plaza is rated 4.0 out of 5 based on 27,328 reviews.
How does Spencer Plaza rank in Chennai?
Spencer Plaza is #32 of 46 Shopping malls in Chennai by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
Where is Spencer Plaza located?
6th floor No 272, Seethakathi Business Centre, 688, Anna Salai, Thousand Lights East, Thousand Lights, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600006, India — 4.9 km from the center of Chennai.
How can I contact Spencer Plaza?
Phone: +91 44 4214 0724
Aadam
Spencer Plaza holds a significant place in Indian history as the first-ever mall in the country, built in 1863. It stands as a landmark and a source of pride for Chennai. With its abundance of shops offering clothes, accessories, electronics, gadgets, and jewelry, the mall promises a diverse shopping experience across multiple floors. However, it lacks a cinema and suffers from congested and limited parking facilities.

Over time, Spencer Plaza has lost its former glory. Many of the shops inside resemble street stalls, selling cheap and low-quality products. Some stores attempt to pass themselves off as well-known brands, but their inflated prices do not align with their unknown reputations. The quality of the products often reveals the truth, leaving customers feeling deceived and disappointed.

Adding to the mall's decline, unemployed individuals often gather around the shops, creating an unwelcoming atmosphere. Some shops become meeting places for friends, who freely comment on passing customers. This lack of professionalism and respect further detracts from the overall shopping experience.

Despite its shortcomings, visiting Spencer Plaza can still hold a certain allure for those seeking a sense of history or wishing to document their visit to the oldest mall in India. However, it is important to manage expectations and acknowledge the mall's faded reputation and decline in quality.

As a customer, it is disheartening to witness the deterioration of Spencer Plaza over time. Efforts should be made to revitalize the mall, attract reputable brands, and improve the overall shopping experience. By doing so, Spencer Plaza could regain its status as a cherished landmark and offer visitors a more satisfying and enjoyable visit.
Abhiram C S
One of the oldest malls in chennai. The building is old now. Need to improve the maintenance. We can have affordable dress items here. There are many antique shops here. We can't compare Spencer with other new malls in chennai because this is an old mall, and you may not get the mall experience you are expecting. But we can have many products at affordable prices. You could definitely have a try!!!
ROY OLI
Spencer Plaza is one of the oldest and largest shopping malls in Chennai. It offers a wide range of shops, boutiques, restaurants, and entertainment options. The mall has multiple floors and houses both national and international brands, making it a popular destination for shoppers looking for clothing, accessories, electronics, and more.

The mall provides a comfortable and air-conditioned environment, which is particularly appreciated during Chennai's hot and humid climate. It has spacious corridors and well-maintained facilities, ensuring a pleasant shopping experience for visitors. The security measures in place help maintain a safe and secure environment.

One of the highlights of Spencer Plaza is its food court, which offers a variety of cuisines and dining options. It is a great place to take a break from shopping and enjoy a meal or snack.

However, it's important to note that since Spencer Plaza has been around for a long time, that certain areas or sections of the mall may appear a bit dated or in need of renovation and some areas are currently undergoing renovations. Additionally, during peak shopping seasons or weekends, the mall can get crowded, which might make navigation a bit challenging.

Overall, Spencer Plaza has traditionally been regarded as a popular shopping destination in Chennai, offering a diverse range of products and amenities. It's recommended for those looking for a variety of shopping options in a central location.
Saravanan M S
Spencer Plaza was built in 1863–1864, established by Charles Durant and J. W. Spencer in Anna Salai, then known as Mount Road, in the Madras Presidency. The property originally belonged to Spencer & Co Ltd. Spencer & Co opened the first department store in the Indian subcontinent e in 1895. It had over 80 individual departments. After a few years, Eugene Oakshott, owner of Spencer's, shifted the department store to a new building, which was an example of indo-Saracenic style of architecture. The building was designed by W. N. Pogson. In 1983, the original building was destroyed in a fire.

The present Spencer Plaza was constructed on the same site, measuring about 10 acres, and was opened in 1991. Spread across a million square feet built in three phases with parking space for 800 cars, the plaza is a major hangout for the people of Chennai.

It has too many of shops both dress 👗 materials and fancy dresses and fancy items with low cost and restaurant and advertising agencies and play rooms and more. It is the most important and one of the quoted identity 💕 of Chennai. Loved a lot , we bought many dresses for reasonable prices. Strongly recommend this place, you can hang out your family and friends when ever you have free time. After borning of so many shopping malls in and around the Chennai, The people's coming to this mall is down and it will be less crowded even weekend. So you can enjoy your shopping experience.
Simon Thomas
This shopping mall may not cross the vibe check of a present day shopping mall, but you must know that this is South India's oldest shopping mall, and about its glorious past. I'd still recommend this mall for budget shopping for clothes, apparel, antiques, handicrafts, and for experiencing the shopping mall culture of the bygone days.
Andrew Wilson
I love this place, it's just amazing and it's not for everyone. I'll tell you why. People come here for different reasons and almost everyone gets what they came for. There's one kind who can't believe that they can actually buy some of this stuff, things are quite cheap here. And then there's the others that believe it's not worth their time and money. Whoever you are, try it before you say it. I personally love this place so much and I go there alone once every month. Even if I don't buy anything, the place still has a lot to offer me. Not many people can understand that last line!
Maharajan Ravi
Spencer plaza is the world biggest Mall in all time Asia 🌏 first architecture late 1800s it's very old and stunning building now Spencer Plaza is a small size and remaining building are used for a office purpose it's proudly say that we have ever did a world biggest Mall in Asian countries 🤩✨
Lava K
It's the first Mall with escalators and a spacious place with enormous shops and so many blocks.

Pros:-
The place has official and shopping entrances separately. The building is very old with various wholesale shops.

Cons:-
Parking is not available directly to the mall. The place needs to renovate.

Overall Rating :
Service - 2/5
Ambiance - 3/5
Taste. - 3/5
Rates. - 4/5

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