A popular Indian restaurant in Newtown Township has been sold to a new owner.
Guru’s Indian Cuisine on North Sycamore Street is being sold to Samarth Joshi, nephew to founding owners Chef Ashni “Baba” Kumar and Priya Guru.
Joshi will take over operations starting August 1. The terms of the deal were not disclosed
The transition comes after a challenging period for the restaurant, which had recently converted to a fully vegetarian menu.
“As many of you know, we recently transitioned to a fully vegetarian menu out of our deep concern for animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and ethical sourcing. However, this change has significantly impacted our business, leading to a substantial drop in revenue,” said Priya. “It was a difficult decision but given the current financial challenges that the business has endured and the time necessary for us to continue our ongoing adoption process, Samarth has decided to reintroduce meat to ensure the survival of the restaurant.”
Facing financial hurdles and personal commitments, including an ongoing adoption process, the decision was made to reintroduce meat to the menu.
Guru’s has seen several changes in the past year, including a temporary closure in January when the couple traveled to India as part of their adoption efforts.
The eatery reopened in April as a vegetarian pop-up and was donating all proceeds to Priya’s animal welfare charity, Guru’s Guardian Angels.
The couple also plan to continue supporting Guru’s Guardian Angels, which focuses on rescuing and sheltering stray animals globally.
Despite changing hands, Baba and Priya will remain involved with the restaurant, but in reduced capacities, the couple said.
“We’re really excited about passing the torch to our nephew. He will bring new life and energy to this business,” said Baba and Priya who have owned the restaurant since 2015.
Looking ahead, Joshi plans to enhance the restaurant’s offerings by developing the bar program and introducing a Bollywood-themed happy hour. He is also hosting a complimentary “Meet the New Guy” event on Thursday, August 22, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Guru’s Indian Cuisine has been a staple in Newtown Township since its opening in 2015 and moved to its current location in a historic building in 2019.
The township will welcome a new southern Indian food eatery later this year further down Sycamore Street.
