Popular Thai restaurant in Lacey closes

Chili Thai restaurant in Lacey has closed — much to the surprise of those familiar with the longtime eatery — and a poor health inspection may have contributed to the decision to close.

“Closed! No longer in business,” a sign affixed to the front door reads.

Chili Thai shares space in a small shopping center off Lacey Boulevard that is also home to the post office and a 24-hour gym called Lacey Ultimate Fitness Center.

Cameron Rogers of Lacey, who was on his way to the gym about noon Tuesday, said the restaurant was popular among gym members. He had eaten there once, he said, and enjoyed the food.

The business owner could not be reached and the business phone number has been disconnected.

Co-workers Jessie Payne and Bridget Mason from the state Department of Ecology planned to have lunch at Chili Thai on Tuesday and were surprised to see it closed.

“They were delicious,” Payne said, adding she had dined there for years. Her favorite meal was the Panang curry.

Longtime Lacey resident Jose Rivera, who was on his way to the post office, said he had been thinking about eating at the restaurant because it always appeared so popular.

Ryan Cuoio of Olympia, who was on his way to the gym, said it was his favorite restaurant. He enjoyed the service and the food, especially the Phad Thai noodles, while his wife liked the fresh spring rolls dipped in a sweet and sour sauce.

“I’m bummed,” he said.

A message about Chili Thai’s closing appeared on Facebook late Saturday, he said.

A Thurston County health department official said this week that Chili Thai received a poor health inspection last month.

Senior environmental health specialist Sammy Berg said Feb. 10 the business received a score of 73 points, including 50 red points, which denotes a more serious infraction. More than 65 points results in an automatic re-inspection, which usually takes place seven to 10 days after the initial inspection, he said.

But the re-inspection never happened because the business closed, Berg said. It wasn’t clear whether the inspection led to its closure or there was another factor, he said.

Notes from the Feb. 10 inspection show that the business racked up 50 red points for hand-washing issues. An employee rinsed hands but did not use soap; an employee washed hands wearing gloves; an employee put on gloves without washing hands beforehand; an employee did not wash hands and then prepared food, according to data shared by Berg.

Past inspections show that Chili Thai had tallied point totals — red and less-serious blue points combined — of 31, 12, 25, 30, 15, 10 and 35, Berg said.

“They continued to have fairly sporadic scores and not necessarily the same problems,” he said.

This story was originally published March 1, 2016 at 4:07 PM with the headline "Popular Thai restaurant in Lacey closes."