Thai House expanding with move

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If all goes as planned, Thai House owners Sontaya and Nittaya Netthongkome will get a new restaurant for Christmas this year. At least that's their hope.|ret||ret||tab|

The husband and wife, na-tives of Thailand, purchased the former Taco Hut building at 2811 S. Campbell Sept. 15 and are renovating it to match their authentic Thai tastes. The property was listed for sale by Realtor Bill Beall.|ret||ret||tab|

Construction began three weeks ago and plans are for an end-of-December opening, an aggressive approach according to project architect Jeffrey Hindman, of Farnsworth Group Inc.|ret||ret||tab|

"That's what they're shooting for I think that's pretty ag-gressive," Hindman said. "I think it will be somewhere around there. A lot of it depends on the weather, too."|ret||ret||tab|

Regardless of whether their Christmas wish comes true, the Netthongkomes will be in their restaurant's new 4,000 square-foot home when they celebrate their sixth anniversary of business in Springfield next April. The couple opened Thai House at 1411 E. Sunshine in 1996.|ret||ret||tab|

According to Nittaya Nett-hongkome, the move is due to the restaurant's need for expansion. While the new location's dining area doubles their seating capacity from 60 to 120 seats the couple also is adding a 460-square-foot private party room. The new room will seat 30 to 40 people.|ret||ret||tab|

Netthongkome said that in the past, they've had to turn down requests for larger parties because their space couldn't accommodate them. |ret||ret||tab|

"This time, we won't have to turn them down," Netthongkome said, "we'll have plenty of room."|ret||ret||tab|

Another expansion will take place in the menu. Netthongkome said seven to 10 new Thai dishes will be added.|ret||ret||tab|

According to the Netthongkomes, who have been in the restaurant business since moving to America 20 years ago, the restaurant is family-run so all of the dishes are authentic and are prepared by their family members. She also said none of the food is prepared ahead of time.|ret||ret||tab|

"Gourmet cooking has to be made order by order," she said. "Gourmet cooking is very hard to find."|ret||ret||tab|

To make their unique food easier for Springfieldians to find, the Netthong-komes have served it to the public at city wine tastings and beer festivals. She said these events bring in a lot of business and help Thai House's name recognition.|ret||ret||tab|

Thai House also offers outside catering, Netthongkome said, and its largest clients are Southwest Missouri State University and St. John's.|ret||ret||tab|

"Catering we can do, but inside (parties) we cannot do because the present location is too small," she said.|ret||ret||tab|

Now that the size problem has been answered, the Netthongkomes must ad-dress the style of the new building. |ret||ret||tab|

"It's going to be a new look," Netthongkome said. "It's going to be real Thai style this time."|ret||ret||tab|

"They are having a person who specializes in interior Thai design come in from Los Angeles," Hindman said. "That's kind of a neat aspect." |ret||ret||tab|

The Netthongkomes think the new Thai House will fit in nicely with the other multicultural restaurants along South Campbell, between Battlefield and Sunset. Those restaurants within close proximity include Mexican Villa, Fuji Steak & Seafood, Diamond Head Rest-aurant, New York Pizzeria and Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon.[[In-content Ad]]