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After a legacy of serving hungry Mithibai, NM and NMIMS students and locals alike since 1978, Vile Parle’s legendary Anand Stall was – unbelievably and sadly – demolished on Sunday, March 8. The fast food joint was a famed local late night haunt for simple yet delicious dosas and buttery vada pavs, selling almost 500 daily.
The unassuming stall was demolished by the BMC as part of broader urban development plans to vacate the lane, specifically to make room for new pedestrian skywalk infrastructure.
Despite outrage flooding the comments of an Instagram video documenting the demolition, the owners quickly took to their official social media account to clarify that the demolition happened on the basis of a ‘mutual understanding’. The comment also offered a glimmer of hope, stating that they will 'soon be relocated nearby', so locals remain optimistic that the 40+ year old culinary institution will be back up and running in no time.
Anand Stall consistently takes the cake for having some of the best vada pav in the city, which is no small claim. Apart from that, the eatery also served over 64 varieties of dosas, frankies and sandwiches late into the night. It’s no wonder the place quickly became one of the most beloved food stalls in the city.
Its demolition truly marks a changing of the guard for the broader culture and community of iconic street food stalls in the city. Anand Stall isn't the first, and may not be the last to close its shutters due to rapid urban expansion across Mumbai. With affordable eateries being relocated or swallowed up entirely, take this as your sign to support your local street food stalls as much as possible.