Iconic Baljees in Shimla bids adieu to visitors today
Bhanu P Lohumi
Tribune News Service
Shimla, July 9
Baljees, the iconic restaurant on The Mall, is all set to close down on Wednesday, ending 65-year rendezvous with local people and tourists.
People will miss eating hot gulab jamuns, ice cream and other fastfood items standing outside the restaurant and unending stream of people entering and coming out of the place would be a thing of the past.
One of the oldest restaurants on The Mall and a destination eating place for tourists and locals alike, it was started in 1954 by Chandra Baljee at a rented building opposite the heritage Town Hall building.
The family expanded the restaurant in 1972 and added “Fascination” in the upper storey. Later, when the family shifted their residence, rooms were converted into a hotel.
Visitors and strollers would spend a leisure time at the legendary eating joint enjoying delicious preparations. It served Indian, Chinese, Italian, Continental, South Indian and other cuisines. A bakery and sweets shop in the four-storey building would attract a huge gathering everyday. For the last two months, people had been visiting the restaurant to enjoy their last meals before it is closed.
“I am parting with Baljees with a heavy heart and there will be no business from July 11. The possession will be handed over to the owners on July 15,” said Renu Baljee. She said all 70 employees would be given gratuity, provident fund and bonus.
“We had received some offers for jobs, but barring three or four employees, there was not much response. Most staff members have already tied up or are keen to start their own catering units," she said.
“It is a big shock, but there is no choice. I have left it to the Almighty, said Daulat Ram, who had been serving at the restaurant for the last 40 years.
“We spent a lot of time at this restaurant and have fond memories. Its closure is indeed a sad moment," said septuagenarian, K Kumar.
Meanwhile, it has also come to the fore that the workers are not happy with the settlement and are demanding more money.
How the journey ended
The protracted legal battle between the landlord and the tenant, which lasted nearly 40 years, ended following a compromise between the parties last year.
The owner of the building, Lok Nath & Sons, and the owner of the restaurant, Renu Baljee, struck a compromise. Renu agreed to vacate the premises and sought one year to wind up the operations and also to forgo the right of re-entry.
The District and Sessions Court had ordered the tenant’s eviction in 2015 and later the user operation charges were hiked to Rs 1.35 lakh per month by the High Court against the monthly rent of Rs 18,000 paid earlier.
Both parties moved the Supreme Court, contesting the user operation charges, and the matter was again referred to the High Court for determining the charges. During the hearing on June 27, Renu Baljee agreed to vacate the premises and sought a one-year time.
