In polluted Delhi, this bar serves oxygen. No kidding!
What's the story
In the face of adversities, new opportunities spring up, and 26-year-old entrepreneur Aryavir Kumar has shown the same. As Delhi is choking, Kumar's "Oxy Pure" bar has become the go-to place. At this unique establishment, patrons are served "oxygen" and the business has picked up immensely in the last couple of weeks. The idea's surely out-of-box, but it's also distressing at the same time.
Beginning
Kumar was impressed by a similar Los Angeles bar
Kumar's family runs Clarks Group of Hotels, which has nearly 90 hotels under its umbrella. Meanwhile, in 2015, he saw a similar oxygen bar in Los Angeles, and decided to give the idea a try in Delhi. He opened the bar in South Delhi's upscale Select City Walk in May, but business wasn't great, till apocalyptic levels of pollution took over the national capital.
Process
So how does it work?
At this bar, customers strap a tube, called cannula, under their nostrils and breathe oxygen for not more than 15 minutes. They can choose from a range of flavors like peppermint, orange, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lavender, spearmint or lemongrass. These sessions cost somewhere between Rs. 299 and Rs. 499. About returns, Kumar said, "The first month was slow but we are now making profits."
Quote
It's just like spa: Kumar
"We are used to breathing just 21% oxygen. While breathing this air may not cure diseases, it helps you you de-stress and detox. This therapy does not cure any diseases. It is purely for rejuvenation like a spa," Kumar said.
Feedback
How has the response been? Pretty good
Lisa Dwivedi, a Ukrainian, said she came to the place as she was fed up with "itchy eyes." "I don't know if it's psychological, but it makes me feel good to know I am inhaling pure oxygen, if only for 15 minutes," she told NYT. Separately, a businessman told Scroll it felt like going to the hospital and after 15 minutes he felt light.
Crisis
While some can visit the bar, thousands can't
While those who can afford to visit the bar can get some relief, there are thousands, if not lakhs, in Delhi and neighboring areas who are breathing poison. The concerned authorities who are expected to do something about the pollution crisis are either too busy to attend important meetings (looking at you Gautam Gambhir) or are indulging in a blame game. This is concerning!