Future of Komala Vilas in doubt as iconic restaurant remains shut after two months

“It has been over two months without any work being done. This is creating speculation and rumours on what is happening,” he said, adding that multiple people have asked him what will become of the restaurant.

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“Komala Vilas is a longstanding heritage business,” he added, saying that it was upsetting to see the restaurant shut for the past few months.

Komala Vilas Vegetarian Restaurant was established in 1947 by Murugiah Rajoo. It is now run by his grandson, Rajakumar Gunasekaran, 40.

Over the decades, it became a household name and a tourist attraction and famously hosted Lee and Modi in November 2015, an event that was described as “dosa diplomacy”.

Another diplomat to grace the outlet was Finland’s Minister of Education and Culture Anders Adlercreutz, who was hosted by Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam for breakfast on Jan 18.

The restaurant is listed as an SG Heritage Business by the National Heritage Board (NHB), a title awarded to businesses that are the “backbone of Singapore’s cultural landscape and provide time-honoured trades, goods or service”.

ST contacted Rajakumar Gunasekaran for comment on Mar 17. In a text message at about 8.40 pm, he said: “I’m overseas right now. I’ll get back to you at the end of the month.”

When Tamil Murasu contacted him previously, the restaurant owner had given the same response.

Employees of neighbouring restaurants, textile and jewellery shops also confirmed to ST that they had not heard or seen any renovation works going on at the site.

Some said the restaurant’s patrons would wander into their shops sometimes, to ask when Komala Vilas would reopen. “People are worried they will not open again; everyone likes the food there,” said an employee of a nearby shop.

Its sweet shop, Komala Vilas Sweets and Savouries in Upper Dickson Road, was also shut and is listed as permanently closed online.

Attempts to contact someone in the main office, which is next to the sweet shop, were unsuccessful.

A check on another outlet that was at 291 Serangoon Road showed that the space has been taken over by another Indian vegetarian restaurant, Vasanta Bhavan. Two other outlets – one in Race Course Road and another in Buffalo Road – had closed some years earlier.

In response to queries from Tamil Murasu, S Mahenthiran, honorary secretary of the Indian Restaurants Association (Singapore), said the association’s “current understanding is that the outlet is undergoing renovation” and it is looking forward to “the next chapter of their operations”.

Lisha’s Rajakumar Chandra said he was in close contact with the restaurant owner and described him as a man dedicated to carrying on the family business started by his grandfather.

The Lisha adviser, who is also the owner of Jothi Store and Flower Shop on Campbell Lane and vice-chairman of the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said people should refrain from spreading rumours.

“As a community, everyone wants to see the place back in action,” he said.

ST has contacted NHB for more information. THE STRAITS TIMES