West.......gone West?

[Greenside]

Arrived at West, the hitherto excellent restaurant that took over Khun Churn's old premises on the corner of Nimmenhamen Soi 7 yesterday for a birthday lunch to find the place empty and no clue as to whether they've moved or simply closed down. Anyone know the story?

[buzzer101]

They have moved location to somewhere on Huay Kaow Rd (next to La Vie en Rose) opposite Hillside 4 and are going to reopen in about 5 days time.

[Paagai]

Arrived at West, the hitherto excellent restaurant that took over Khun Churn's old premises on the corner of Nimmenhamen Soi 7 yesterday for a birthday lunch to find the place empty and no clue as to whether they've moved or simply closed down. Anyone know the story?

Others have told me the place is closing down. I don't know how true this is but it might as well be shut already. Actually went there for dinner last week, the food was OK but the place was deserted and the staff were the most miserable I've ever seen. Wake up guys, you have one customer, at least try and look like you're pleased to see them! A little smile goes a long way. The owner seemd like a grumpy old man sulking behind the bar, he's hardly going to motivate the staff like that. In summary, terribile atmosphere, shall not be going back whether open or closed.

[Greenside]

Arrived at West, the hitherto excellent restaurant that took over Khun Churn's old premises on the corner of Nimmenhamen Soi 7 yesterday for a birthday lunch to find the place empty and no clue as to whether they've moved or simply closed down. Anyone know the story?

Others have told me the place is closing down. I don't know how true this is but it might as well be shut already. Actually went there for dinner last week, the food was OK but the place was deserted and the staff were the most miserable I've ever seen. Wake up guys, you have one customer, at least try and look like you're pleased to see them! A little smile goes a long way. The owner seemd like a grumpy old man sulking behind the bar, he's hardly going to motivate the staff like that. In summary, terribile atmosphere, shall not be going back whether open or closed.

The bleak mood may have been because the axe had already fallen - I've eaten there numerous times and although the staff could have used a bit more training in attentiveness, the owner was always charming and the food very good and reasonably priced. The rents for new businesses opening up in that part of town must make success a rare commodity - let's hope they surface somewhere else as Buzzer suggests.

[Sansai Sam]

Here's what I heard:

David, the normally affable owner, needed to go home to see his sick Mother. He asked the Thai landlord if he could pay his rent on his return as he was short of cash and the owner sais yes. Nothing was written down. When he returned he was told he was late on rent and needed to get out. Apparently the landlord did the same thing to the property on the corner of 7th and Nimmanheiman. Days before eviction I can't imagine I or my staff would be in very good spirits either. The food was always good and I ate there frequently. The lunch deal was one of the best in town at 3 courses for 160 baht. Desserts were among the best in town. Sorry to see them move and I wish them better luck in a new location.

[Ulysses G.]

If he moves into the Thapae Gate area, he might turn be able to turn lemons into lemonade. Lots of failed restaurants are closing and there are not a lot replacing them. A decent place should do well when things pick up a little.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Just having you nearby would already enhance the chances of success in the resto business greatly.

Edited June 19, 2009 by WinnieTheKhwai

[Paagai]

Here's what I heard:

David, the normally affable owner, needed to go home to see his sick Mother. He asked the Thai landlord if he could pay his rent on his return as he was short of cash and the owner sais yes. Nothing was written down. When he returned he was told he was late on rent and needed to get out. Apparently the landlord did the same thing to the property on the corner of 7th and Nimmanheiman. Days before eviction I can't imagine I or my staff would be in very good spirits either. The food was always good and I ate there frequently. The lunch deal was one of the best in town at 3 courses for 160 baht. Desserts were among the best in town. Sorry to see them move and I wish them better luck in a new location.

The same David who has been known to brag about his business empire That's funny man, how the mighty have fallen!

Sorry, shouldn't laugh at the misfortunes of others......... There but for the grace of somebody else's god and all that

Maybe the landlord was from Issan and thought it was the usual scam: "Mother she sick need operation, give money now!"

It would likely explain why the atmosphere was so bad though. Might have done him a favour; face saving way to get out of the lease and go somewhere else if your business is loosing money. Either way, sounds like the story has a few reminders about the risks of doing business in Thailand and making sure you have really deep pockets, especially in the bar and restaurant business.

If the owner repossesed the adjacent plot too, watch for the new condo/whatever coming soon. I can't believe even the most boneheaded Thai business man would be wanting to loose tennants who pay money in the current economic climate, without having a hidden adgenda. As UG points out, many places going bust, and from what I've seen of many Farang orientated business the last few weeks many more will be gone by the end of low season.

[getgoin]

Here's what I heard:

David, the normally affable owner, needed to go home to see his sick Mother. He asked the Thai landlord if he could pay his rent on his return as he was short of cash and the owner sais yes. Nothing was written down. When he returned he was told he was late on rent and needed to get out. Apparently the landlord did the same thing to the property on the corner of 7th and Nimmanheiman. Days before eviction I can't imagine I or my staff would be in very good spirits either. The food was always good and I ate there frequently. The lunch deal was one of the best in town at 3 courses for 160 baht. Desserts were among the best in town. Sorry to see them move and I wish them better luck in a new location.

I heard he worked out the rent problem. I also thought that they were fairly busy. A lot of restaurants in the Niman area and although some praise the location it is over populated with restaurants and parking is difficult. Hopefully they will relocate somewhere where there is a good landlord. Is that possible?

[calibanjr.]

Georgie wants more selection in his close proximity, of course! Who wouldn't?

[Ulysses G.]

Very true.

Also, I still think of Nimmanheiman as being mainly a Thai area and just not that great for selling mainly Western food. I could be wrong, but that is the impression that I have.

[mcgriffith]

UG, I have to mildly disagree. You need to get out more....<br /><br />Tapae Gate area is Backpacker Central, mixed in with old Thai-Chinese businesses. I think some of those watch shops were here when I first visited in 1975. <img src="style_emoticons/default/cool.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="cool.gif" /><br /> <br />Nimblehymen (sic) is Rodeo Drive and 5th Avenue, for this town. <img src="style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /><br /><br />Lots and lots of up-market Thai and farang clientele in this area. <img src="style_emoticons/default/guitar.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="guitar.gif" /> <br /><br />Problem is the rents are escalating, on the la-la Thai rental market scale. As in...."my building vacant months now- need to raise asking price to compensate", etc.<br /><br />Just my 25 satang. <img src="style_emoticons/default/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />Edit: There have been a few good farang restaurnts in that area over the years. Used to go to the Outback (which became Munroe's and then something else- Italian I think.

Most of the good food in Nimblehymen area is Korean, or Japanese with some decent Italian thrown in.

I don't go to Kasems to shop, and I don't patronize the old Mike's Burgers, that is now something else.

But I still go to Grace Dental Clinic. In the 'hood, so to speak. Great group of people!

I like this neighborhood; I think you should start a salt-water bagel restaurant, with a Ben & Jerries Ice Cream sub-franchise, ........smack dab on Nimmenhaeminda Rd.

Send my million cut to my Burundi account....

Edited June 19, 2009 by mcgriffith
added clarification

[Ulysses G.]

The guy who used to own Bookazine in Chiang Mai tried to open a branch on Nimmanheiman a few years ago when the economy was doing well. He had already run his Night Bazaar Branch for more than 10 years and it was doing well. The new one on Nimmanheiman closed within 4 months even though rents were cheaper then.

That says a lot to me about running businesses there that are mostly going to have foreign customers - that is my feeling anyway.

PS. Mr mcgriffith, your last post looks like orange 37 dropped a copy of tabs of Owsley's best and then typed the post with his feet. You might want to fix it up a little.

Edited June 19, 2009 by Ulysses G.

[ThaiPauly]

PS. Mr mcgriffith, your last post looks like orange 37 dropped a copy of tabs of Owsley's best and then typed the post with his feet. You might want to fix it up a little.

Even the resto's in town are struggling , I see that the Burger house (Texas something or other) next to one of your shops UG is trying to sell up and they have reduced the price by nearly 50% to try and find a buyer

Grim times for some it seems

[haybilly]

The guy who used to own Bookazine in Chiang Mai tried to open a branch on Nimmanheiman a few years ago when the economy was doing well. He had already run his Night Bazaar Branch for more than 10 years and it was doing well. The new one on Nimmanheiman closed within 4 months even though rents were cheaper then.

That says a lot to me about running businesses there that are mostly going to have foreign customers - that is my feeling anyway.

PS. Mr mcgriffith, your last post looks like orange 37 dropped a copy of tabs of Owsley's best and then typed the post with his feet. You might want to fix it up a little.

a bit Haight-Ashbury, eh UG?

Be careful--you'll have the 'hang-em-high' brigade down on you, not even allowed to make jokes about sinful drugs.

[Ulysses G.]

I always wonder where these 'hang-em-high' guys were during the 60s?

[haybilly]

I always wonder where these 'hang-em-high' guys were during the 60s?

Deep South--Mississippi, or Essex etc...no really they seem to be in the majority in TV land--or maybe they're just more vocal than us pinko-liberal softies! Ooops, I forgot commie-lovin'.....

Edited June 21, 2009 by haybilly

[gatorhead333]

I always wonder where these 'hang-em-high' guys were during the 60s?

Deep South--Mississippi, or Essex etc...no really they seem to be in the majority in TV land--or maybe they're just more vocal than us pinko-liberal softies! Ooops, I forgot commie-lovin'.....

Hopefully West doesn't venture too far west or he will may end up back here.....

[Steve2UK]

The same David who has been known to brag about his business empire That's funny man, how the mighty have fallen!

Sorry, shouldn't laugh at the misfortunes of others......... There but for the grace of somebody else's god and all that

Is this necessary? Doesn't seem anything remotely funny about this episode at all...........

Times I went to West, it was good to meet David and to enjoy quality, varied and interesting food at very fair prices in a pleasant setting/atmosphere - somehow I missed all of the "bragging" in my many chats with him. If West is gone for good, I see that as a loss to the scene and a cause for regret - not a trigger for smug " " crowing

If buzzer101 is correct in saying that West will shortly re-open at the site mentioned on Huay Kaew Road, I for one will be going there and glad of the opportunity.

Edited June 24, 2009 by Steve2UK

[gatorhead333]

The same David who has been known to brag about his business empire That's funny man, how the mighty have fallen!

Sorry, shouldn't laugh at the misfortunes of others......... There but for the grace of somebody else's god and all that

Is this necessary? Doesn't seem anything remotely funny about this episode at all...........

Times I went to West, it was good to meet David and to enjoy quality, varied and interesting food at very fair prices in a pleasant setting/atmosphere - somehow I missed all of the "bragging" in my many chats with him. If West is gone for good, I see that as a loss to the scene and a cause for regret - not a trigger for smug " " crowing.

the west place is the only restaurant in thailand in my life that i was served rotten food - the ribs-

how did the west handle this ? why by yelling a our table that they were great..marinated in coke he yelled... why of couse!

maybe is was the bad time of the month for him but this is like reverse bragging when a cook,owner or whatever he is or was complains to the table he personally cooked served uneatable off food to! the rest of the food was o.k. but needless to say we never would go back there again to brave a westy rant ...ever!

for that matter even my Thai mate agreed it was off ...uneatable smelled rotten tasted rotten... was off!

now that is saying something.... yet westy went on a crazied rant, a frenzied frazzle...over his over ripe ribs..

may his restaurant rest in peace....

Edited June 24, 2009 by gatorhead333

[drfang]

Well, i gave wests a week or so to settle down in its new location, and ate with some friends there tonight. All good, staff cheerfull, the owner relaxed, and the best Goulash outside of Budapest.

[Mapguy]

Not concerned with the personality of the unfortunate restauranteur, I am struck by the narrow range of thinking about business conditions and location sometimes expressed above. I know of a lot of successful restaurant businesses in Chiang Mai and in the Nimmenhamena area. It is true that many do not cater directly or entirely to so-called farang tastes. It is too bad that this forum's taste buds often seem so limited, but that is an impression most likely caused by the frequency (sometimes bordering on pure idiocy) of just a very few members.

But, yes, you can find decent restaurant reviews here if you work your way through the dross. All in all, Chiang Mai has a remarkable number of decent places to enjoy a good meal, some of which are remarkably good for such a small place. You'd really have to be terribly picky to complain.

[getgoin]

Not concerned with the personality of the unfortunate restauranteur, I am struck by the narrow range of thinking about business conditions and location sometimes expressed above. I know of a lot of successful restaurant businesses in Chiang Mai and in the Nimmenhamena area. It is true that many do not cater directly or entirely to so-called farang tastes. It is too bad that this forum's taste buds often seem so limited, but that is an impression most likely caused by the frequency (sometimes bordering on pure idiocy) of just a very few members.

But, yes, you can find decent restaurant reviews here if you work your way through the dross. All in all, Chiang Mai has a remarkable number of decent places to enjoy a good meal, some of which are remarkably good for such a small place. You'd really have to be terribly picky to complain.

But complain they do.

I had a decent meal at West when it was in the old location. I hope that this new lease and location brings them good luck.

[Ulysses G.]

1)I am struck by the narrow range of thinking about business conditions and location sometimes expressed above.

2)I know of a lot of successful restaurant businesses in Chiang Mai and in the Nimmenhamena area.

3)It is true that many do not cater directly or entirely to so-called farang tastes.

4)It is too bad that this forum's taste buds often seem so limited, but that is an impression most likely caused by the frequency (sometimes bordering on pure idiocy) of just a very few members.

5)But, yes, you can find decent restaurant reviews here if you work your way through the dross.

The Stalker

[Theyreallrubbish]

Is the same David West that used to have Dominos by the Tha Pae gate?

[Greenside]

Well, i gave wests a week or so to settle down in its new location, and ate with some friends there tonight. All good, staff cheerfull, the owner relaxed, and the best Goulash outside of Budapest.

Where exactly is the new location, please?

[drfang]

wests is off huey khaw road, in an open air complex almost directly opposite hillside 4. It used to be a wet market, some years ago. Entering from Huey Khaw, there is a "ladies only" bar on the corner, keep walking and Wests is on the right, next to Krits resturant.

[patopenchiangmai]

They moved to another soi of Nimmanhaemin Rd. Opposite Khun Mor Cuisine. Not far from Warm Up Cafe.

[mcgriffith]

The guy who used to own Bookazine in Chiang Mai tried to open a branch on Nimmanheiman a few years ago when the economy was doing well. He had already run his Night Bazaar Branch for more than 10 years and it was doing well. The new one on Nimmanheiman closed within 4 months even though rents were cheaper then.

That says a lot to me about running businesses there that are mostly going to have foreign customers - that is my feeling anyway.

PS. Mr mcgriffith, your last post looks like orange 37 dropped a copy of tabs of Owsley's best and then typed the post with his feet. You might want to fix it up a little.

You're right....have no idea what happened....bloooody Maxnet internet gremlins strike again.

In the interest of full disclosure and transparency (the new PC buzzwords) I'll let the post stand as is.

Oh, and back to the topic. West may have gone west, but everyone knows that you must go west, young man, go west....

You see Pim's post recently about how she took a walk around her Nimmanheiman neighborhood (instead of driving) and discovered about 15 new restaurants, art galleries and shops she had never heard of, or seen before? And she is from here.....

But I can understand that every business is different. Maybe Tapae Gate is good for certain businesses that would not survive elsewhere.

[butterisbetter]

I happened to be on the soi where West used to be and there was a sign on the gate saying that West would be reopening on Niemanhamen Soi 5