Vinayak Singh, 42, working with Uttar Pradesh Jal (Nigam) urban, is upset as in the last month, while visiting Hazratganj, the main shopping and business hub of Lucknow, to meet friends, he had to spend over ₹1,500 each time on coffee and snacks.

“I ask friends to come at the Indian Coffee House, but on every occasion, we found it closed, forcing us to sit at the adjoining Cafe Coffee Day (CCD) who’s each beverage or snacks is at least seven times costlier, when I call on coffee house number, they reply we will reopen soon, I used to visit the place daily in 1990s, as a student of Lucknow University, when it was the centre of debate and deliberations with people from all walks of life spending time,” recalled Mr. Singh.

The Temporary closure of Lucknow’s iconic Indian Coffee house, located at the main intersection of Hazratganj in over 700 square feet, left hundreds of locals and residents, like Mr. Singh, in distress, who have fond memories of the vibrant place where people from all walks of life spent time.

“I visited the place many times with U.P. Chief Ministers Veer Bahadur Singh and Narayan Dutt Tiwari, former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar was also a regular visitor here when he travels to Lucknow, it was a social space where journalists, academicians, students, politicians and other professionals meet as equals to freely talk, share ideas, and debate public issues, this shared space helped in imparting new ideas in society,” said Sharat Pradhan, a veteran political analyst, who visited the place for the first time in early 1970s.

Mr. Pradhan added that even socialist icon Ram Manohar Lohia used to visit the place in the 1950s. “In those days, a cup of tea used to cost 50 paise while coffee was a bit costlier; pakora or fritters of many kinds were also served, which were a favourite of many people apart from Dosa,” said Mr. Pradhan. The coffee house is run by Indian Coffee Workers Co-operative Society limited. 

contacted the official Lucknow number of the coffee house, where the person who didn’t reveal the identity informed that staff issues is responsible for temporary shutdown and it will be opened soon. 

“The closure may be linked to poor planning, as staff could be hired any day, in case of food and beverages, it they (coffee house) not want to invest on catering, certain items can be ordered daily from nearby eateries, it will help in allowing the coffee house to be run with minimum cost, but keep it open is the core issue as Lucknow faces broader problem of lack of social space where ordinary people can gather to talk, read the news, and debate political and social issues,” said Ram Dutt Tripathi, a political commentator, who visited the place since 1980. 

Mr. Singh fears the prime location of the place could also be a factor behind non-operation, as people with ulterior motives want the space to be permanently closed so other high-priced restaurants could operate freely. “Every nearby eatery costs over five times what was offered at the coffee house; hence closer may be linked with vested interest,” said the government employee.