German Bakery back in business,silently

Hard to believe,they are enjoying food at the famous German Bakery damaged in the blast on February 13,2010.

The eatery silently started functioning under a new owner,with a new logo. There was no publicity,formal announcement or fanfare,a far cry from numerous occasions when its impending reopening was announced only to be followed by disappointment.

It started functioning at 12.11 pm on Saturday,considered auspicious by the new owners. They have taken the famous joint on lease from the original owners,the Kharoses,and promised it has reopened “for real” this time.

Amid the makeover and the reopening there was no mention,no souvenir or memory to mark the blast itself.

There had been an attempt at making a connection earlier when the owners had tried to reopen it on February 13 this year,but had to postpone it after Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) asked them to submit a structural audit report.

“We have submitted the report and are now formally open,” Vijay Shewale,the new owner told The Sunday Express. What took the eatery three years to reopen is something the new management would prefer not to talk too much about.

Internal matters,police investigations and delayed delivery of two imported ovens — which will add new taste to about 40-odd items to be added to the old menu — are what they say caused the delay.

“We entered a 25-year lease with the Kharoses. The delay has been due to internal matters of the original owners. Everything is settled now and we are back to serve people,” said Shewale,an NCP activist and owner of eateries such as Shreeman and Eddy’s Kitchen.

Shewale had entered into a contract with the Kharoses about a year ago and is believed to have spent about Rs 1.5 crore on interiors.

He explains the significance of the new logo,an owl. “It means night is over and we are waiting for dawn to arrive,with eyes open. It will all be good now,” Shewale said.

The blast may be a thing of the past but the eatery is not taking any chances. A metal detector welcomes guests at the 4ft X 7ft entrance,the only one. There are 16 CCTV cameras keeping a close eye on every movement of visitors. And eight private security guards keep a hawk’s eye on the premises to ward off any threat.