Restaurants

After rumors spread that the landmark diner was shutting down for good, the owner says the closure is only temporary.

The lights are off, and the doors are locked at Rosebud Bar and Kitchen in Somerville’s Davis Square. And the surprise shutdown left some would-be diners stranded during a busy graduation weekend in May.

Customers took to social media to say they had made reservations only to arrive and find the historic dining car was closed.

“It was completely dark inside with no notice,” said one Reddit user who had a reservation following the Tufts graduation. 

But owner Koushik “Babu” Koganti says the closure is only temporary.

Speaking by phone, Koganti told Boston.com on Wednesday that Rosebud, known for its American diner classics with Indian-inspired twists, has closed for renovations. 

Crews are replacing the floors, installing a new HVAC system, and preparing an updated menu. He aims to reopen by mid-June and says patrons have already booked major events for July.

“We’re making upgrades,” he said.

The current owners under the Bindaas Restaurant Group purchased the iconic 1941 dining car in 2023. At the time, the new owners briefly closed it down for renovations and laid off the staff, which caused some controversy. They then reopened it with the new Indian-infused menu. 

Previously, Alpine Restaurant Group operated the diner for 10 years, from 2013 to 2023. Before that, the Nichols family operated the original Rosebud Diner for 40 years. 

Koganti is also involved with other restaurants, including the local chain Madras Dosa Co., the Godavari restaurant chain with more than 30 locations in the U.S. and Canada, and the Don’t Tell Aunty restaurant in the Back Bay.