Thai Market will cease operations in June. Photo by Mike Diegel.
A long-time fixture on Thayer Avenue in Fenton Village will close next month.
The Thai Market and Carryout at 902 Thayer Ave. will shut its doors when its current lease expires June 30, said owner Peter Gosak.
Gosak took over the store in 1997. He is the third owner of the market, which originally opened about 35 years ago, he said.
The market specializes in a wide variety of Thai foods and other imported products, as well as offering a limited menu, which can be eaten in-store or carried out.
Gosak cited several reasons for the decision to close.
“First of all, they don’t have the parking,” he said. “Since last September, there was no parking in the back, so people complain and we can’t do anything. Sales keep dropping and dropping.”
The market sits next to a major project that’s underway to build Studio Plaza, a mixed-use development with plans for about 400 apartments as well as retail. The site was a surface parking lot owned by the county.
He also said that the owners of the building, while they would be happy to see him stay, want to increase his rent.
“So I decided not to do anything,” Gosak said. “I’m seeing the business [drop and] I can’t take it anymore.”
Changing demographics has also affected his sales. Gosak said he doesn’t see as many Asians as he used to, noting that other specialty markets featuring products from other Asian countries have opened over the years.
For now, the market is open from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sundays.
A major reason for the market’s closing is the loss of a county parking lot to the large Studio Plaza development next door. Photo by Mike Diegel.