By Seth Daniel
One of the more popular, long-time local eateries on Main Street has been sold and the new owners will address the community tonight, March 24, at a public meeting in the Charlestown Branch Library.
An abutters meeting took place on March 24 in the Charlestown Public Library for the 187 Main St. eatery. The official reason for the meeting is to review the possible beer and wine license transfer to the new owners.
Neighborhood Services Coordinator Chris Breen said the meeting had a small turnout, but the new owners answered questions of those that attended.
A banner on the outside of the Chow Thai Cafe says that coming soon will be Sweet Rice Boston. The website referred to on the banner did not operate when tried, and there was no further contact information available for the new owners.
The website Boston Restaurant Talk indicated that a business certificate on file for the new venture shows the owner to be Pichai Chairatthanawanit, who had been involved with Thai Moon in Arlington. The site reported the other two people behind Sweet Rice are Jarthuront Pholsamak from Falls, NY, and Monson Theerapanont from Malden.
Chow Thai has been in business for years under Dan Huck, a co-owner with his wife, Mui. The restaurant abruptly closed back in January with a sign that said it was closed for a winter break and would re-open in February. However, as time went by, the questions began to mount.
Late last month, Huck posted the full story on the restaurant’s Facebook page – noting that he and his wife were looking for a new ownership group having struck out with a proposed partnership with another group.
“We had tried to partner with one group of people with the idea Mui, myself and our staff would continue being directly involved in day to day operations,” he wrote. “After a trial run, and much consultation, it became clear it would not work. That was the ‘Staffing Emergency’ referred to in the sign in the window. Sorry it has not been clearer communication, and more sorry for the disappointment it all caused. We are now in the process of choosing a buyer who will bring Thai restaurant ownership background and capability back to Chow Thai Cafe.”
The new ownership referred to now appears to be Sweet Rice Boston.