2026-08-07
Best Locations for a Chai Kiosk: College, Station, Market, Office
Four location types that fit a 100 sq ft zero-royalty kiosk — and the mistakes that kill footfall.
Railway / bus
Peak waves, cheap cups, speed. Need a legal pitch and a boiler that never goes down at 7 a.m.
College and coaching
Longer dwell, Maggi and cold coffee matter. Avoid inner lanes with no evening batch.
Market
All-day chai. Watch shop-cluster rent and overlapping tea stalls.
Office / IT gate
Weekday lunch spike, weekend drop. Price for office wallets, not highway tapri rates.
Maa Ki Chai does a location check before you pay. A pretty board in a dead gali will not hit the ₹20,000–₹1L range.
Is a mall kiosk better?
Malls cost more. Only if CAM and hours still leave 40–50% after rent.
Can I open two formats?
Start with one 100 sq ft site, prove cups, then apply for a second territory.