The incident that happened on Thursday evening in Mumbai killed 14, including 12 women. Zoravar Kalra’s Massive Restaurants is a mere few feet away from the site of Thursday night’s tragedy.They had planned a lot for New year eve but the phone has been ringing incessantly at Farzi Cafe.Many of who have booked spots for the restaurant’s New Year’s Eve package starting at Rs 4,000 per head are now both curious and concerned. They are calling for reassurance.
Kamala Mills Complex in Lower Parel houses over 30 restaurants, pubs and nightclubs, and houses several office complexes. The vast stretch of the complex extends from Tulsi Pipe Road right up to Pandurang Budhkar Marg and also includes land from Victoria Mills, redeveloped as Oasis City. Standing at Gate No 4 at the rear end of the compound, which overlooks Oasis City, it is easy to believe that all is good this Friday afternoon. Restaurants are open for business, patrons are flitting in and out and boards announcing their plans for the New Year’s Eve are placed near the entrances. It’s business as usual. However, many restaurateurs there confessed that they have called for huddles with their teams to reassess the situation.
“With the tragedy so near New Year’s Eve, it’s a difficult decision to take,” said Jaydeep Singh Bika, owner of Talaiva. The restaurant, which serves royal Indian cuisines, is located in Oasis City that is part of the Kamala Mills compound. “We have booked a DJ and called in resources according to the bookings, especially since we have permissions to stay open till 4 am. It’s an investment and now we are not sure if the guests will be in a mood for DJ music or prefer a quiet candlelit dinner. We are now preparing for both,” he added.
The teams at the popular restaurant, The Bombay Canteen, as well as the newly-opened Lady Baga by A D Singh, said they are taking a stock of the situation and want to take every hour as it comes. The Bombay Canteen’s December 31 plans include ‘Canteen House Party’ where the restaurant will be open until 3 am. Lady Baga has planned a live music night with special drinks and food menu.
But it seems unlikely that the restaurants and pubs will alter their plans in the wake of the tragedy that took place next door. Several pubs within the complex, including Verbena, Farzi Cafe, and Play Lounge, went ahead with the special DJ nights scheduled to cater to the Friday night crowd.
Restaurateurs are worried BMC may come down heavy on them, perhaps even find a scapegoat or two to prove they are taking action.
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