New Thai Restaurant Moves into Former Downtown-Moncton Starbucks
MONCTON – A new Thai restaurant with origins in Ontario is taking over Starbucks’ former Downtown Moncton shop.
Josh Lirette, the president of Aura Construction Management, confirmed in a call with Huddle that his company is preparing 761 Main Street for MK Thai Gourmet, a successor to Georgetown Thai Gourmet.
Georgetown Thai Gourmet, originally from the Ontarian community half an hour northwest of Mississauga it’s named after, will be taking up residence downtown later this year, under the name MK Thai Gourmet.
“I don’t think we have enough restaurants in the downtown core. So, any addition, [and] to have more restaurants go downtown a big plus,” Lirette said.
“I think we can’t have enough restaurants and it will be a great addition for the downtown core. They’re really nice people and have a good reputation.”
The restaurant’s 2,000-square-foot berth at 761 Main was home to Starbucks in a past life, before closing in October 2020. Since the American chain shuttered its presence there, the property has sat vacant.
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Lirette said the fit-up work to prep the location for Georgetown Thai Gourmet will take about two months – and is more of a renovation than heavy-duty work.
“We’re keeping some of the millwork on the walls and all that – it’s mostly millwork, kitchen equipment and flooring,” Lirette said.
The fit-up will require about 15 contractors and subcontractors, taking care of electrical, plumbing, ventilation work, along with carpentry and millwork. At the time of speaking to Huddle Lirette said he was still waiting on the building permit to start work at the property.
Lirette, who is based in Dieppe, launched Aura in 2022, specializing in commercial and multi-residential construction.
Owners
Lirette said he was contacted by Georgetown Thai Gourmet’s owners, Mai Saikosin and Kate Phaunpa, just before Christmas of 2022, after they decided to sell their restaurant in Ontario and open under a new name in Moncton.
“They wanted to move to Moncton to have a better and more relaxing, balanced lifestyle,” Lirette said. He added that Saikosin and Phaunpa owned and operated their restaurant in Ontario for 17 years.
Huddle reached out to Saikosin and Phaunpa but did not receive a response before our publication deadline.
“They were looking for a location to open, and I’d heard great things about both of them. They’re really nice people and have a good reputation in the Georgetown area,” Lirette said.
The restaurant has earned varied accolades over the year, ranging from high approval ratings on TripAdvisor and Google Business to official Thai Select Certification from the Government of Thailand.
Sam Macdonald is a Huddle reporter in Moncton. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].