First McDonald's outlet on Kolkata's park street shuts down after a decade

First McDonald's outlet on Kolkata's park street shuts down after a decade

The McDonald's flagship store on Park Street, which has been a witness to an eventful decade on the city's food street, shut down for good on Saturday. The sprawling eatery opposite Flurys shut down after the landlord, Park Street Properties (PSP), secured a favourable court order over a rent dispute with the lessees.


The once illuminated and bustling outlet wore a desolate look with its fancy interiors pulled down. The legal team of PSP inspected the outlet before closing it. One of the owners of PSP said their immediate plan was to restore the place before deciding what to do with it.

On Saturday afternoon, representatives of Dipak Singh and Sanjay Singh (of Munna Maharaj) — the lessees — handed over the keys to the sprawling 3,500sqft outlet to the owners after removing all furniture and fittings. Alok Karnani of Park Street Properties Limited said, "We have received the possession after fighting a legal battle for the last few years. It is in a very bad condition."

The spat between PSP, owned by the Karnani family, and the Singhs (of the Munna Maharaj fame) has been in the court for the past few years. PSP had filed an eviction suit against Dipak Kumar Singh and Sanjay Singh in 2009-10.

PSP had filed an eviction suit against the lessees due to a dispute over the rent. They got a favourable order, which was challenged in the higher courts. But it was ultimately delivered in PSP's favour.

On September 8 last year, the outlet witnessed high drama when it had to be closed for four hours over the dispute. The Connaught Plaza Restaurant Limited managed to get a fortnight's stay on the eviction.

CPRL, the Indian franchisee of McDonald's, is locked in a litigation with the American burger brand with the latter barring CPRL from using the brand, trademark and other intellectual properties.