Spencer Plaza

Spencer Plaza is a large shopping mall located on Anna Salai (Mount Road) in central Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Originally established as Spencer & Co. department store in 1863-1864, it is considered one of the oldest and first shopping malls in India. After a major fire in 1985, it was rebuilt and reopened in 1991. The multi-phase complex houses over 500 shops across three phases.

Visitors can expect a large, air-conditioned indoor shopping complex spread over three connected phases with multiple floors. The mall contains retail shops for clothing, footwear, electronics, accessories and souvenirs, along with food courts, restaurants and entertainment options. The interior features wide corridors, escalators and elevators, with a busy urban setting on Anna Salai surrounded by commercial buildings and easy access to metro and bus services.

Spencer Plaza traces its origins to 1863-1864 when Charles Durant and J.W. Spencer established Spencer & Co., one of India's first department stores, on Anna Salai. Built in Indo-Saracenic style, it became a landmark retail institution during the British period. The original building was destroyed in a major fire in 1985 and was subsequently rebuilt as a modern shopping plaza, reopening in 1991 while retaining its historic name and significance.

Spencer Plaza is a long-standing commercial and social landmark in Chennai, representing the evolution of retail culture from a colonial-era department store to a modern shopping mall. It remains a popular gathering place for shopping, dining and leisure for residents and visitors and is often cited as a symbol of Chennai's urban commercial heritage on Anna Salai.