Bengaluru’s empty cafes and pubs leave netizens wondering: Is heat wave or Iran war making people feel ‘poor’? | Today’s news
Empty cafes and pubs in Bengaluru have sparked concern with social media users wondering why Bengalurus are spending less – is it because of the ongoing heatwave or is the Iran war making residents feel poor?
“Have Bengaluruans started spending less?” a redditor asked in a viral post.
The Redditor said that after working non-stop for a month, “I needed a big break, so I thought about spending the weekend away from home.” However, they noted that the pub, which is usually crowded in the evening, was almost empty.
Then on Sunday, a popular breakfast restaurant, usually “crammed with cars parked on both sides of the road and long waits”, had “fewer cars/bikes outside the restaurant, fewer tables occupied and fewer people waiting in line for takeaways”.
“Even at lunch at 1.30pm, the normal restaurant which was busy earlier had a much smaller crowd and there were also less people from Zomato collecting orders.”
Read also | Bengaluru, parts of Karnataka, 5 districts of Tamil Nadu on alert for heavy rain
The Redditor said that “there is no long weekend during which people leave Bengaluru, nor is it the wedding season”. “Even the weather was suitable for us to go out,” the post said.
A social media user asked if “Bangaloreans have started cutting back on their spending lately? noting that “most of the cafes seem empty”. — “Instead of going to expensive pubs, do they drink at home?
The Redditor also asked if this is a sign of “declining business in Bengaluru” and where it will eventually lead.
Read also | Bengaluru woman calls out landlord over ‘fake’ excuse for ₹4,000 rent hike
Here’s how others reacted:
Netizens noted several points including the Iran war, LPG crisis and general inflation as some of the reasons why Bengaluru people may be avoiding going out.
One user expressed a similar opinion: “It’s the same picture even in the majestic fabric market. I think it’s more related to the heat today, if not, I’m also skeptical about this change in behavior.”
“I don’t know about others, I feel poor after the war in Iran. The effects are coming in now. But when the war started, I knew my fortune was tight. I’m trying to spend less! Maybe learn to cook instead of spending hours traveling to and from restaurants,” said the user.
“I’ve been careful enough with my spending because most of the time I spend more on food, clothes or a place where I feel it’s not worth it. I’m afraid to even go out these days because of the increased costs. It’s not because I can’t spend it, but because it’s worth so many questions,” said another user.
Read also | How Much Salary Makes You ‘Rich’ in Tier-2 Indian Cities? CEO explains | Watch
Another attributed a small joint-eating spree to a heat wave. “Maybe the heat, maybe the war, maybe the coming recession, or people are tired of overpriced, subpar food and service.”
The netizen said that layoffs and artificial intelligence are also contributing to consumer sentiment. “Also, news about AI, layoffs and general bad moods aren’t helping. People are definitely holding back a bit on spending at the moment.”
“Yes, because everything is expensive now,” the user commented.
