After more than 22 years in business, Wellesley’s Lemon Thai Restaurant (555 Washington St.) will not renew its common victualler’s license and close by year-end.
Owner Nipon Tepatiganon said he is thankful to the community for its support over the years, and especially to Wellesley College students who frequented the restaurant or ordered takeout. Lemon Thai was opened in 2002 by a businessman who had left Thailand 20 years before, and wound up opening several restaurants in the Boston area. Tepatiganon took over Lemon Thai not long after.
It was a business started based on the premise that local residents, including students, would be attracted to the healthy and relatively inexpensive restaurant food. Menu items include favorites like pad thai, spring rolls, and steamed dumplings.
The owner, now 62 years old, says he looks forward to spending more time with family, including those in Thailand, which has been hard to travel to in recent years between COVID-19 restrictions and a very busy work life.
Factors contributing to the restaurant’s closure are familiar. There were struggles during the pandemic, and fallout after, namely sky-high prices. “After COVID, food costs doubled or more,” Tepatiganon said. An order of bell peppers that would cost $20 not long ago now cost $50, he said. Lemon Thai raised prices but could only hike them so much. The rise of delivery apps have also cut into profits.
Employees have been hard to attract and retain. Tepatiganon used to work a couple of days at the restaurant per week, but more recently has found himself coming in every day. After hiring a new chef and general manager he was able to get away to Thailand for a month, but the employees left shortly upon his return.
Competition in town has also steepened with the introduction of restaurants like black & blue Steak and Crab, and the expected arrival of Karma in Linden Square, he said. Wellesley has other Thai restaurants, including Amarin and Coconut Thai, that have been around even longer than Lemon Thai.
There had been signs, literally, that Lemon Thai was on an upswing. The business underwent a renovation, including a new exterior sign, new dishes, and a revamped website. Catering demand was up and takeout has remained popular. “We’d do 100 takeout orders a day on weekends,” Tepatiganon recalls of the restaurant’s busiest times.
Tepatiganon said there is a possibility of a friend opening a noodle restaurant in the space, which abuts Café Mangal.
“I want to let people know nothing’s wrong. I want to retire and am happy to be at this point,” he said.
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