Thai restaurant coming to Davis - from Babson College

[ron_newman]

The former Fusion Express (next to Subway) now has signs in the window advertising a future Thai restaurant to be called Benjapon's. It has an e-mail address, greatthaifood@yahoo.com, and a Help Wanted sign with this phone number: 626-321-1494. No idea why they have a California phone number.

A Google search shows that this restaurant concept was a finalist in last year's Babson College Business Plan Competition.

Comments

[hdaemon.livejournal.com]

The sheer fact that they are starting up the business with the intent of turning it into a franchised chain drops the possibility that I will go there to near-zero. I'll stick with the local places, thank you.

[kglue.livejournal.com]

There are definitely tons of great Thai places in the Davis area already ... but I wouldn't rule out Benjapon's solely because they have a desire to one day expand. Not all franchises are bad after all (I think). And even franchises can have a very local flair and roots in the community.

If, however, the atmosphere or food are generic (typical of a lot of frachise places) and the prices suck, then I probably won't go either.

[lena-a-mermaid.livejournal.com]

Why do people in this community feel the need to condemn restaurants before they open, before they know anything about them, assuming the worst.

This restaurant isn't a franchise yet. It is a new venture. Obviously if you don't like the food and the prices, you won't be a regular customer, but perhaps you could wait until it opens before you decide that.

Bertucci's opened its first restaurant in Davis Square and then it later became a chain. JP Licks started in JP then opened more and more stores and even bought out Davis Square's own Denise's Ice Cream which was a fantastic locally owned unique place with flavors JP Licks never even dreamed of.

What are all the great Thai places in the Davis Square area already? There aren't any in Davis Square itself. I've always thought the square could use a Thai place, especially since Fusion is gone.

[ron_newman]

I agree with Lena. My intent here was just to provide information, not to insult the restaurant in advance of its opening.

This block of Elm Street has been a good one for local places that later went national. The current Subway was the site of the first Bertucci's. Steve's Ice Cream started in a building that was later torn down and replaced by Carberry's (now O'Natural's).

The only Thai place I know of near Davis is Thai Kitchen, on Mass. Ave. between Day and Dover. Are there others?

[kglue.livejournal.com]

Sugar and Spice in Porter (ok, fine not really Davis Sq)
Tip Top in Teele (ok, fine not really Davis Sq either)