In 2022, the combined TriMet Division Transit Project and the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s Outer Division Safety Project completed construction. Left to right: Aroon Onchumchit, Mayor Ted Wheeler, Vong Soutavong. Ultimately, Vong Soutavong feels the street reconfiguration of SE Division instigated his restaurant’s closure. However, Thai Fresh survived shutdowns and closed dining rooms, again with the community’s support. The pandemic nearly toppled that success, as it had for many restaurants. The area grew in the first eleven years, and business was thriving. Even in that environment, the business took root and expanded into the neighboring storefront to add more dining space. When Thai Fresh opened in 2008, the country was experiencing economic hardships, and people cut back on spending, including eating out. Their social impact in the area is nearly as well known as their freshly prepared food.ĭespite loyal customers and a good reputation, they have faced many challenges. The owners supported the formation of the Jade District and have catered many community events throughout the region. Since opening, Thai Fresh has supported numerous school fundraisers and educational events for students interested in business. They feel strongly that their business needs to offer more than food to neighbors. That early support from neighbors was essential to Soutavong and Onchumchit’s sense of community. Even before opening, people from the neighborhood would offer encouragement for the new food option, affirming their decision to open on SE Division Street. However, despite early concern, they signed the lease and began building their restaurant with Soutavong’s older sister, Khemphone, as the head chef. I was like, ‘Oh my God, we’ll be the only Thai restaurant,'” explained Soutavong. “At first, we were scared because we looked around the neighborhood, and it was all Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants in that area. The storefront was appealing, with affordable rent, but the new restaurateurs were concerned that they may not thrive around existing businesses. “One morning, I just looked at Craigslist and saw the ad for a price that we were looking for,” said Soutavong. He started working at another restaurant but kept an eye on available spaces. “We looked around for a couple of months, then we gave up because the rent and leases were so crazy expensive,” remembered Soutavong. However, they faced challenges getting started in a difficult economy. A family-run restaurant was an attractive option for the partners. After a decade of employment, the company they worked for sold, leaving them searching for new opportunities. Thai Fresh began in 2008 after Soutavong and Onchumchit lost their jobs. HÂP Restaurant will move into the space, opening later this summer with startup help from the Thai Fresh owners. Owners Vong Soutavong and Aroon Onchumchit made the difficult choice to cease operations after a series of events prompted the couple’s eventual relocation to Thailand later this year. On July 1st, Thai Fresh at 8409 SE Division Street closed its doors after nearly 15 years.
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