Every evening as the sun goes down in Greater Noida's Jagat Farm area, a long line of chaat lovers forms in front of one cart, Shankar Chaat Bhandar. Running it since 2017 is Vipin, a BA graduate who gave up a steady job to build his own business, and today he employs 6 to 7 people at his stall.
A steady job never felt right
Vipin completed his graduation with a BA degree. Once he finished studying, his family and acquaintances kept telling him to find a respectable job, arguing that education only paid off with steady employment. Vipin briefly followed that advice and worked at a Patanjali store for about six to seven months. But his heart was always set on running his own business, and the job never truly suited him. Eventually he quit and decided to set up his own chaat stall instead.
Tough start, but no compromise on quality
In 2017, Vipin set up Shankar Chaat Bhandar right in front of Jagat Plaza in Jagat Farm. The early days were far from easy, winning new customers and earning their trust took real effort. Even so, Vipin refused to compromise on taste or quality. He decided everything served at his stall would be pure and delicious, and that commitment slowly became his biggest strength, drawing in customers who kept coming back.
No garlic, no onion, just pure desi ghee
What sets Shankar Chaat Bhandar apart is that its tikki is prepared in pure desi ghee, and the entire chaat is made without garlic or onion, so that people from every background can enjoy it without hesitation. Vipin says purity comes even before taste on his list of priorities, and that is exactly why customers trust him enough to keep returning.
The crunchy tikki and matar chaat everyone talks about
Tikki, golgappe and especially matar chaat are the most sought after items at Vipin's stall. He says his crunchy tikki and matar chaat have carved out a distinct identity across the entire Jagat Farm area. Keeping different customer preferences in mind, he serves both sweet and tangy versions of his chaat, which is why people of every age and background show up to taste it.
A flavour shaped by western Uttar Pradesh
Vipin, who originally hails from Baghpat district in Uttar Pradesh, has also worked the food preferences of western Uttar Pradesh into his chaat. People from Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar and Shamli tend to prefer a sweeter taste, so Vipin takes special care to bring that flavour into his dishes. He believes understanding what customers want is the real key to running a successful business.
From working for others to employing 6 to 7 people
Years of hard work and the trust of loyal customers have turned Shankar Chaat Bhandar from a humble cart into a well known name in the area. What stands out most is that Vipin now employs 6 to 7 people alongside him. He recalls that he once worked for someone else, and today he is in a position to give others employment instead. That, he says, is his biggest achievement and his greatest source of happiness.
Vipin's stall runs every day from 6 pm to 10 pm in front of Jagat Plaza in Jagat Farm. He says the biggest mantra for success in business is honesty, quality and customer trust. The very people who once advised him to take up a job now praise the hard work and success he has built for himself.
