If you tried to grab a drink at 3594 Chicago Drive SW this week, you were likely met with locked doors. Less than a year after its big comeback, Grandville's medieval-themed bar The Dungeon has temporarily closed, and questions are mounting about whether and when it will reopen.

A $1 million renovation and a brief second act

The original GrandVilla building, which housed both The Villa and The Dungeon, closed in 2022 after almost 90 years in business. New owners Manoj Mulki and Nina Mahesh took over the property and poured an estimated $1 million into a three-year renovation. The space reopened on August 29, 2025, debuting as a speakeasy-style lounge and restaurant on the lower level, with an event venue upstairs called The Villa.

Now, fewer than twelve months into that fresh start, the lights downstairs are off again.

Conflicting accounts over the cause

Owner Manoj Mulki originally told Wood TV 8 that the restaurant was forced to pause operations because its executive chef left to pursue another opportunity. He said he hoped to reopen within two to three weeks once a replacement was found.

A notice posted on The Dungeon's website reads: "The Dungeon restaurant is temporarily closed until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Please check back for updates. We look forward to serving you again soon!"

Former staff offered a different account. The former executive chef says he gave the owners 30 days' notice on August 6 and fully intended to work through September. Instead, he says ownership terminated him this week. Staff members also reported ongoing financial troubles leading up to the shutdown, including slashed hours, bounced vendor checks, and struggles to stay profitable.

General manager Brenna De Young and server Zach Manning told Wood TV 8 that about 15 employees were blindsided when they were suddenly locked out of their scheduling apps and work accounts on Monday morning without warning. It also appears the official Facebook page for The Dungeon has been deactivated.

A local theater group left scrambling

The sudden closure caught at least one local production off guard. The theatre group Betka-Pope Productions posted that they were informed the bar had closed without notice, "leaving their incredible staff without jobs, and us without a venue for our production of The Last Five Years." The group expressed sympathy for the venue's former employees while scrambling to find an emergency venue for show dates spanning August 21 through 23.

In a statement to Wood TV 8, Mulki says ownership is working with consultants to evaluate the future of the business. For anyone holding upcoming reservations upstairs, the Villa Bar & Banquet event space remains open and is continuing to operate while The Dungeon stays closed.

Reporting based on Wood TV 8 (WZZM).