Back to Life

Since the German Bakery blast three years ago, passing by the spot where the popular eatery was located could make for an unpleasant experience. The restaurant, once buzzing with patrons, food and happy chatter, was nothing more than rubble and an empty pocket in Koregaon Park's history. Since Monday though, the bakery and North Main Road — where it is situated — seem to be thrumming with life. In the newly reconstructed building, workers can be seen moving furniture, placing tiles and setting up for the famed bakery's comeback.

A printed banner that reads "German Bakery" flutters above the entrance, which has been fitted up with new wood and glass work and as workers shout instructions at each other, passers-by stop and gaze at the landmark bakery. Already, German Bakery's doors are open, and customers walk in to buy baked goods such as cakes and muffins. Snehal Kharose, the owner of German Bakery confirms that the outlet is indeed on its way to a full reopening soon.

"Right now, we are unofficially open, just so people know that we are back. Since Monday, we've had around 50-80 customers everyday, coming in to buy bread and other products. We should be officially open in another 10-15 days," she says. The tentative date set for the re-opening is reported to be January 26, on Republic Day, although Kharose has chosen to wait until all the construction and renovation is complete, before she announces the opening date at a press conference.

In the past three years, rumours have been rife of German Bakery reopening but were quashed soon enough. Several old patrons have trouble believing that the bakery is indeed returning. "I'll believe it when I see it," says Anand Subhuti, who came from England in 1976. "I had been to the bakery several times. The service was friendly, the ambience was informal and it had high-quality vegetarian food. I especially liked the apple crumble and soya coffee there," he adds. Prem Ali, who came from Germany in 1988, fondly remembers the early morning cinnamon rolls and chai at the bakery. "I also liked the ginger breadsticks; they were crunchy. German Bakery was casual and cheap and a great place to go to," he says.

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