After nearly four decades serving the Crown Hill community, Thai Siam closed its doors on April 30—but with help from customers, the beloved restaurant will reopen in the same location this week.
Owner Vhanthip “Nancy” Bhokayasupatt shared the good news on Facebook on May 11, announcing that the landlord accepted their offer under the right of first refusal (ROFR). Thai Siam plans to reopen on Wednesday, May 14.
When the restaurant first closed, commenters on Thai Siam’s original announcement asked how they could help. Neighbor and longtime customer Amy Poisson set up a GoFundMe to help Bhokayasupatt purchase the buliding.
According to The Seattle Times, the building that houses Thai Siam was originally listed for $2.4 million but later dropped to about $1.3 million, making it a possible purchase option for Bhokayasupatt, who had also been exploring new locations, as earlier reported by KING 5.
“Good News!!!” Bhokayasupatt wrote. “We look forward to welcome you back soon… Thank you for your unwavering love and support. It truly means the whole world to us. We truly appreciate it. Always our pleasure to serve you.”
Poisson set the fundraising goal at $24,000, noting that donations would also help cover costs and loss of income during the closure. In its first week, the campaign reached about 25% of its goal.
Since its closure, there’s been a handmade sign in the window and a flyer with the GoFundMe QR code reading:
“WE ARE CLOSED; HOPE TO REOPEN SOON; TILL WE MEET AGAIN; PLEASE FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!”
Poisson shared that she has been a neighbor and customer of Thai Siam for 25 years. Many locals have similarly long ties to the 38-year-old restaurant.
(Full disclosure: My family has been among them. After hearing the news of the closure, we went for one last lunch. On my way out, I checked the wooden statue by the door for Mike and Ikes—a ritual from childhood—and we all contributed to the GoFundMe. My brother even joked about having to move if Thai Siam relocated, because ever since returning to Seattle 20 years ago, he’s always lived within five blocks of it.)
Since opening in 1987, Thai Siam has been a fixture in a neighborhood that has seen significant change. In a 1993 Seattle Times article, John Hinterberger wrote:
“This is a part of town not known for adventurous dining. Solid blocks of solid citizens—many of them older or retired—form the sturdy backbone of Seattle’s most predominantly Scandinavian population. Lutefisk, yes. Black sticky rice? Uff da.”
He also noted that Thai Siam had recently become smoke-free, with dinner prices then ranging from $5 to $7.
Over the years, Thai Siam has posted candid updates on Facebook reflecting changes in the neighborhood, including multiple break-ins and a daytime robbery in 2022. Their posts, less polished than their professional marketing, lamented the lack of city support for unhoused and addicted individuals while emphasizing their commitment to staying put and working toward community healing.
Thai Siam has long been known for its generosity. The restaurant has provided free Christmas dinners and hosted annual benefit buffets, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for various causes. As Bhokayasupatt told KING 5 in 2018:
“If we help the community to be better, then we will be better — and also the nation would be better too.”
Now, thanks to the community’s outpouring of support—and a lot of perseverance—Thai Siam is ready to reopen its doors and continue serving the neighborhood it calls home.
Featured photo: Thai Siam
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