#143:From my unlocked diaries: Janatha Hotel, an iconic restaurant struggles to survive

It’s been almost a tradition in the last few years for us to have our Sunday morning breakfast in one of our favourite restaurants in Bengaluru.?The usual suspects … Veena Stores or CTR in Malleshwaram, or Brahmins Café or Bangalore Café in South Bengaluru.?This Sunday, Nidhi my daughter said – ‘Appa, today let’s try Janatha Hotel, since it’s been a while since we went there’.

Though my heart said CTR, I agreed with Nidhi; after all she is the breakfast boss!

For those of you not familiar with Janatha Hotel, it’s on Malleshwaram 8th Cross in Bengaluru.?All old Bangalorean will relate to Malleshwaram.?Any conversation about Malleshwaram with locals in Kannada immediately shifts to – ‘Yaava Crossu?’… meaning which cross in Malleshwaram ? ! ?

Malleshwaram located in the heart of the city was planned way back in 1899, ?after the?great plague of 1898. ?It derives its name from the ancient Kaadu (forest) Malleshwaram Temple located here. ??Malleshwaram over the years is known for its traditional street markets selling fruits, flowers and vegetables, small shops selling everything from a humble Dhoti to Footwear.?Malleshwaram is a melting pot of culture, tradition, music and food with many temples and old & iconic eating joints in the area.

Some of the old & popular temples in and around Malleshwaram …

Malleshwaram flower, fruits and vegetables markets ...

For me Malleshwaram is?an area that I can literally walk around with my eyes closed, having studied in at MES College… Yes, on 15th Cross ! ?

Ok, now back to Janatha Hotel.?It was around 8 AM on Sunday morning, ?Nidhi and myself walked into Janatha Hotel.?I could hardly see anyone around.?Often a place bustling with people, in fact on a Sunday morning you have to stand in a line to get a table… But today, it was deserted.

As we sat down and ready to place our order, I could sense lack of energy among the waiters.?Those familiar faces of waiters smiling, energetic and with very sharp listening skills to take the food order in a jiffy… were all missing. The two waiters who were around lacked energy and seemed bored and disinterested.?In fact we had to repeat our order almost 2 to 3 times, for them to register it.??

Nidhi and me exchanged glances… both had similar thoughts running through our head … Janatha Hotel was not what it used to be.

As we looked around, I noticed the wooden cladding on the ceiling was peeling off, the rickety fan made too much noise and one section of the Hotel was permanently locked.?

Soon our Idli, Vada, Khara Baat arrived followed by Janatha Hotel special - Masala Dose. ?In the background the popular kannada song ?‘Naa Ninna Mareyalarey’ (how can I forget you) from the popular Dr. Rajkumar Kannada movie played in the background from a 1980’s vintage speaker, even as we devoured the tasty breakfast.

Since there were very few people around in the Hotel, we could not but help overhear an elderly man sitting across our table asking the waiter in Kannada – ‘Eradu Plate Poori Kodi’ (get us two plates of Poori).??

The waiter’s response sort of summed up what the Hotel was going through …?

The waiter replied – ‘Sir, time aaguttey, Bhattru innu bandu hittu kalasi mada-beku’.. meaning – ‘the cook who makes pooris is yet to arrive.?He will need to prepare the flour and then make it. It will take time sir !’

Sipping hot & fresh south Indian filter coffee, I could not resist asking the waiter why the Hotel lacked maintenance??

Hesitatingly he replied in just two words – ‘Building owner bidalla’ (building owner does not allow) ?

So, there you go.?This Hotel has been operating in a rented place.?Being in a prime area, it seems like the owner wants the Hotel to vacate the premises, and hence perhaps refusing to allow the Hotel to make any improvements. ??

Walking out of Janatha Hotel on Sunday, I had a sense of nostalgia and sadness.?

I had so many memories of Janatha Hotel for last several decades.?Be it during those nostalgic college days,?visiting here for shopping before major festivals and then waiting in a long queue to eat the irrestistable Vada and Masala Dose, or sharing the table with complete strangers on a busy Sunday morning. ?

Today, I felt sad to see Janatha Hotel in this state.?No queues, with all the familiar hustle & bustle missing. ?Despite the struggle, it seemed like they owners are striving to keep the taste of the food exactly the same, like it always used to be.?

Is it the case of another old, iconic Hotel brand that will not survive in the coming years? Is this because the Hotel owners don’t want to change, or don’t want to relocate to another location for fear of making additional investment and take that risk…??

Well, I don’t have the answers.?I only hope this traditional, iconic Hotel survives the next 25 years, either in the same place or somewhere nearby.?I hope it is still around in the year 2047, when we celebrate 100 years of India’s Independence….!?Not sure how many of us will be still around, but the next generation will surely love it… will they?

Balu

August 15, 2022

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