THE PENDULUM

Open country roads, paved sidewalk-lined neighborhoods and a comfortable tight-knit community accurately describes Elon and its surrounding areas.  Traditional Asian influence and Thai culture and cuisine — not so much. But if Vonne Keobouala has it her way, Elon won't remain a stranger to Thai culture much longer.  

Keobouala, a resident of Greensboro, N.C., recently added restaurateur to her resume when she opened Simply Thai off West Haggard Avenue. After months of searching for the perfect location, Keobouala settled on Elon, believing it would be a great place to share her cultural heritage and have her restaurant benefit from the business of university students and a close-knit community.  

"I visited Elon. The campus, I love it," Keobouala said. "It's beautiful.  It's a very close-knit community, I realize.  I love that feel, where you drive up from the hectic life of Church Street, Alamance Crossing, wherever you are and I thought, 'Wouldn't it be nice to have something here?'"

After finding a location in January, general construction on the restaurant began in April.  With the help of her brother, Jit Lothakoun, a general contractor, Keobouala completed the resturant and got it running within six months. But within those months Keobouala struggled to make decisions that would ultimately create a relaxed place where people could come to enjoy good food.

She said the process was difficult, but not discouraging.   

"We always wanted a relaxed yet classy atmosphere," Keobouala said. "We want a place where people from all backgrounds can come and enjoy fine foods and enjoy company of friends alike. Finding the right locations, the right chef, negotiating lease terms, marketing, you name it ... it's a lot of work."   

With the help of Keobouala's support system of friends and family, hard work paid off when the restaurant opened in the middle of September.
Lothakoun serves as Simply Thai's manager and is in charge of daily operations. He has been largely responsible for training the new staff and has watched the development of the restaurant unfold.  

"The most rewarding part is to see the place open now and full of customers," Lothakoun said. "We have not put up any advertisement, and last week we had a full house. I was surprised. Everybody loves the food and are very happy. I can see they are really sincere."

Lothakoun said he realizes the most difficult stage of opening is yet to come: advertising to the community and bringing in outside customers.

"The most difficult will be to get the word out," he said. "I want to be a part of the community. That's the only way to be involved."  

Before Simply Thai really gears up its advertising campaign, they want to make sure all the kinks are out of the system. For instance, some of the staff still need to be properly acclimated to the restaurant and the culture from which its food hails.  

"We're Laotian," Lothakous said. "Laotian food and Thai food are very much the same.  A few of (the servers) are learning the process, learning what our food is really like, how does it taste, how does it smell. It's all a learning process. We're trying to get over the learning curve."

Backed by a world-renowned Thai chef, Satian Khamphu, the culinary experience at Simply Thai is sure to impress even the most hesitant palettes.  Besides traditional Laotian and Thai cuisine, the restaurant boasts a full service sushi bar. Diners can enjoy a variety of dietary options, tastes and textures and are encouraged to try something new.  
The staff has been trained and will happily recommend some of the restaurant's signature dishes, Lothakous said.  

More than being just another restaurant, Keobouala wants to establish Simply Thai as a significant fixture in the community. She said the restaurant is anxious to begin partnering with local organizations and sponsoring special events. A special Breast Cancer Awareness discount night and sushi tasting night are already in the works.  

"I want Simply Thai to be the center of the community's social and professional hub," Keobouala said.  "When you want to take a date to a nice restaurant or a nice place to conduct a meeting or a place for study groups, I want Simply Thai to fill those needs. I also want Simply Thai to be the place where people can escape their structured lives and just relax."