MEXICO — The Thai Smile 2 restaurant, which was forced to close when it was vandalized last summer, will reopen this month, owner Chaiwat “Charlie” Kloythep said.
“It hasn’t been easy to get everything in place, but right now, everything looks ready to reopen,” Kloythep said. “We just hope everybody will come out to try us again.”
The business will reopen at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 23.
Kloythep, who also owns Thai Smile and Sushi Restaurant in Farmington, bought the building that once housed the Mexico Chicken Coop restaurant in October 2013 and reopened as Thai Smile 2.
He spent the beginning of 2014 renovating the building, installing full bars downstairs and upstairs, and setting up a television and karaoke machine upstairs. However, in September 2014, 10 juveniles broke into Kloythep’s building and the adjoining apartment building, causing more than $10,000 in damages.
Mexico police Chief Roy Hodsdon said shortly after the break-in that the juveniles ranged in age from 11 to 17 and were turned over to the juvenile intake system.
Kloythep said the building had been littered with broken glass, the walls spray-painted, and the restaurant’s pool table and toilet “completely broken.”
At the time, Kloythep said he was unsure when he would be able to reopen.
Kloythep has revamped the menu and added new specials and food for people to try.
“There will be some new things for people to try,” Kloythep said. “I’ve had people come up to our restaurant in Farmington from the Mexico area and ask when we’re reopening.”
The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and until 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
For information on the Thai Smile 2 restaurant, visit www.thaismile2.com.
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