Bombay Club Owner Files for Bankruptcy

The owner of the now-closed Bombay Club restaurant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday afternoon, the Boston Business Journal reported.

Vinod Kapoor of Lexington, who opened the South End eatery with his wife, Shikha, filed for protection on behalf of Sai Restaurants Inc., which includes several recently closed restaurants in Boston and Natick and Masala Art in Needham. 

According to the article, Sai Restaurants claimed assets ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 and liabilities ranging from $1 to $10 million. Needham Bank is reportedly owed $1.9 million and the state Department of Revenue is owed $50,000.

Attorney Michael Levin of Norwood is representing Sai Restaurants in the proceedings.

The Bombay Club, located on Washington Street across from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, in mid-February, notifying customers via a handwritten sign on the door. The sign claimed that the restaurant would be closed for the next three weeks “due to severe winter,” but a 'For Sale' sign appeared in the window a few days later.

Owners Vinod and Shikha Kapoor moved the Bombay Club to the South End from Harvard Square in December of 2009 but were unable to succeed in the Pho Republique's former home. Their menu of traditional and innovative South Indian dishes coupled with a full bar couldn’t seem to draw a crowd – the restaurant was frequently empty on weekday nights.

In recent months, Kapoor was also forced to close the Bombay Club’s Faneuil Hall location and Curry Leaf in Natick. As of Wednesday, Masala Art remained open.