Signage points to closure at Simply Thai

Simply Thai, the sister restaurant to Thai Express, is currently closed, according to signage posted to the door of the eatery.

A hand-written sign posted to the door of the 2808 S. Campbell Ave. restaurant reads, "Simply Thai is closed, please go to Thai Express for the same menu!"

Simply Thai owner Patrick Netthongkome Jr., commonly known as Patrick Nett, could not be reached for comment by deadline, but he told the Springfield Daily Citizen that it's unknown at this point whether the restaurant would reopen. 

The Facebook page for Simply Thai, which bills the restaurant as a fast-casual concept with Thai and Chinese dishes, has not been active since July 4. 

Thai Express relocated to 2113 W. Republic Road in late 2021 from 948 S. Glenstone Ave., according to past reporting. 

The Simply Thai building previously was home to Smith’s Restaurant, but that concept closed in 2022 upon the death of owner Mark Smith, Springfield Business Journal previously reported. The building also formerly housed a Kum & Go convenience store. 

The building housing Simply Thai is part of The Village, a shopping center owned and operated by Magers Management, according to Greene County Assessor records and MagersManagement.com. 

In May, Nett was named as a defendant along with Thai Express Inc., Nett Restaurant Group LLC, dba Simply Thai, and Nett Meat Co. LLC in a lawsuit filed by the now-defunct Schuchmann Meat Co. LLC and its owners, according to past reporting. The lawsuit alleges Nett embezzled funds as part of a planned acquisition of Schuchmann Meat Co. 

In that case, a motion to dismiss on behalf of the defendants was filed June 21, but an order related to that motion has not been posted in court records.