Gemma Mascarenhas, founder of Grubshack, is recovering after emotional toll from shutting down her decade-old dream eatery
Gemma Mascarenhas, the Indian-origin founder of Grubshack—a once-iconic Goan restaurant in Dubai—suffered a heart attack shortly after the restaurant shut down due to severe financial difficulties. The popular eatery, launched in 2012 in Sharjah, had grown into a cult favourite before closing its doors on June 30, 2025, reported ndtv.com.
Grubshack was more than a business—it was a legacy built with love
Ms Mascarenhas had devoted herself to building Grubshack from the ground up, starting with a humble 12-seater serving Goan cuisine in Sharjah. By 2016, it had expanded to Dubai’s Health Care City and gained a loyal following, with patrons traveling from far to experience its soulful, homestyle food.
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According to her daughter, Marushka Coelho, the restaurant’s closure deeply affected her mother
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“She was shattered. My mum suffered a heart attack and was rushed into emergency surgery
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By God’s grace, she’s stable now,” Ms Coelho told the News, highlighting the emotional toll the business’s struggles had taken over the past month
Despite pandemic-related losses and a failed business deal that left the family financially burdened, Mascarenhas never gave up. She was the heart of Grubshack—personally selecting fresh fish, grinding masalas at home, and managing every corner of the kitchen.
Family hopes to revive Grubshack ‘not for profit, but for purpose’
Ms Coelho now hopes to bring Grubshack back to life as a tribute to her mother’s passion. “This is our heart project now. We’re open to investment, collaborations, or anyone who believes in what Grubshack stood for,” she said.
She emphasized that the restaurant was never a commercial venture but rather an extension of their family home. “Everything—from the mismatched furniture to the guitars on the wall—reflected our mother. People felt like they were stepping into someone’s living room.”
The Mascarenhas family is now actively exploring opportunities to revive the restaurant, inviting partners who align with their values of authenticity, nostalgia, and soulful cooking.
