Splash Thai Restaurant Makes Ripples With Second Location in Rothesay
ROTHESAY – Rothesay could see a dramatic spike in Thai cuisine foodies with the opening of Splash Thai Cuisine’s second location in February 2020.
“I was looking for a location that is somewhat central to not just Rothesay, but also Quispamsis, French Village, even out towards Norton,” says John Likourgiotis, co-owner of Splash Thai Cuisine & Mediterranean Restaurant, the popular restaurant complex on Rothesay Avenue in Saint John.
“The new location will strictly be take-out, a ‘Splash-to-go,’ rather than dine-in” he says.
The future Splash location will be next to the Rothesay Superstore, where Likourgiotis says there has been large community growth.
“The area contains a type of market that I think is more conducive to take-out,” said Likourgiotis. “I live in the [Kennebecasis] Valley and based on talking to friends and customers, I find there a lot of people in the valley who order take-out, and that when they do want to go to a restaurant they come into town to a restaurant like Splash.”
The geography of Splash’s second location was the result of shrewd and smart observations. Many of the restaurant’s customers are from the Kennebecasis Valley area but will often not order take-out from Splash because they would have to travel back into the city.
“We felt that there was an opportunity to do something and we constantly had customers asking us ‘when are you coming out to the valley?’ We thought there was an opportunity there to pursue.”
The restaurant scene has definitely grown and changed in Greater Saint John since Splash first opened in 2011. Likourgiotis says they are now focusing more on the take-out side of the business.
“Right from when we first opened Splash, we worked hard at providing something to our customers that was new, fresh and high-quality,” he says.
“We’ve always thought of expanding, but it was just a matter of time and of finding the right people – we’re always looking for new adventures.”