One8 Commune restaurant in Bengaluru has reportedly closed its outlet next to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, an outlet linked with the Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli. Kohli was promoting the restaurant in the context of his One8 brand, which already caught everyone’s attention not only for its great location but also for its celebrity-attracting reputation.
But the new evidence suggests the business somehow struggled to survive and shuttered. The restaurant was experiencing increasing financial strain from a failure to pay rent and salaries, sources say. Things took a turn when the building owner purportedly sued the restaurant for overdue dues and maintenance from management. The operation shut down after being ordered by a court order to comply.
The restaurant was also under investigation by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike in the past, following accusations of fire safety issues sparking fire-related controversies. The city’s official notice dated last year resulted in a fair amount of media attention (most likely embarrassing Kohli on behalf of the brand because Kohli is an associated company) and apparently embarrassed (at a large, non-local-level) Kohli.
Negative press publicity around the safety notice and operational failures had been claimed to have stoked tension between Kohli and the restaurant management. The cricketer purportedly told its owners to clear the place of the “One8” brand in order to save himself from further damage to the company’s reputation.
The disappearance of the One8 name, we're told, had a huge negative effect on the business of the restaurant: the brand and star endorsement had been key in bringing consumers in. According to accounts, the outlet lost revenues without the association and continued financial hardship.
The owner brought court action against the restaurant management, which ordered the closure to be enforced by the owner. The restaurant owners, after securing a temporary stay against the order, have not resumed the establishment’s business. Celebrity-backed ventures are usually built on brand values, industry commentators say, and reputational damage can have an almost immediate impact on business performance.
Regulatory challenges brought financial pressure, brand disconnect and disassociation seemed to cause a death: what is now ailing store after all. The One8 brand is being stripped away, and its owners are in a legal battle. Do you think that restaurant could be reopened under a new name again tomorrow or might it just be shut down for good?
