The owners of Chan’s Thai Kitchen are reportedly closing the long-running Auke Bay restaurant. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

The owners of Chan’s Thai Kitchen are reportedly closing the long-running Auke Bay restaurant. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Thai restaurant closes after 21 years

Chan’s Thai Kitchen owners pledge to ‘try something new’

After more than two decades serving Thai food out of its Auke Bay location, Chan’s Thai Kitchen is closing its doors for good, according to a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page.

The owners, Curtis Hopson and his wife Chantana, were not available for comment Thursday. According to a 2002 Empire article, the couple opened the restaurant in 1997. Chantana, who goes by Chan and is the namesake of the restaurant, is originally from Thailand. She and Hopson met and married when Hopson was studying in Thailand in 1991, according to the Empire.

As the story goes, the restaurant’s signature Pad Thai used to be much spicier, but the owners decided to ease up on the spices after so many people weren’t able to handle it.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“In the 21 years of operating Chan’s it’s been a real pleasure getting to know many members of the community, but we feel it is time to move on and try something new,” the restaurant’s Facebook post read. “Sadly we will not be re-opening again. It’s been a pleasure serving Juneau for 21 years. Thank you all of our loyal customers for all the support over the years.”

There were nearly 300 comments on the post as of 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Many people told anecdotes about their time at the restaurant, raving about the service, the food and the view.

In a separate post, the owners wrote that if customers with gift cards send a Facebook message to the restaurant’s page or to Hopson’s page, they can get a refund.


• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at 523-2271 or amccarthy@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @akmccarthy.


More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of March 23

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

President Donald Trump signs the Save Our Seas Act in the Oval Office in the White House in Washington, Oct. 11, 2018. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), is second from the left. Both Republican politicians got relatively high favorable ratings in a poll of Alaskans published this month. (Gabriella Demczuk/The New York Times)
Statewide poll: Trump, Murkowski provoke strongest feelings; Sullivan most popular among delegation

Alaskans also split on continuing aid to Ukraine, agree Russia started war, oppose Canada/Mexico tariffs.

Lesley Thompson asks a question during a town hall with the three members of Juneau’s state legislative delegation Thursday night at the Mendenhall Valley Public Library. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Local legislators emphasize wise navigation on bumpy state and federal policy highways during town hall

Federal shakeups affecting medical care, fiscal stability, schools and other legislative issues loom large.

The Juneau School District administrative office inside Thunder Mountain Middle School on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Update: Students and staff affected by PowerSchool data breach offered two years of identity protection services

The complimentary identity protection services apply to all impacted students and educators.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, March 26, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Illustration by Stephanie Harold)
Woven Peoples and Place: Seals, science and sustenance

Xunaa (Hoonah) necropsy involves hunters and students

Natural gas processing equipment is seen at Furie Operating Alaska’s central processing facility in Nikiski, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Glenfarne takes majority stake of Alaska LNG Project, will lead development

The Alaska Gasline Development Corporation announced Thursday they had reached an agreement with the New York-based company.

Tom Dawson touches a 57-millimeter Bofors gun during a tour of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
US Coast Guard Cutter Munro stops in Juneau as it begins its patrol

Crew conducts community outreach and details its mission in Alaska.

ConocoPhillips oil pipelines on the North Slope of Alaska on March 23, 2023. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times)
Oil and gas execs denounce Trump’s ‘chaos’ and ‘uncertainty’ in first survey during his second term

Issues raised by southcentral U.S. operators have similarities, differences to Alaska’s, lawmakers say.

Most Read