Bangkok Thai is set to anchor a new 9,660-square-foot commercial center under construction at 101 Gerald Drive off Johnston Street, with more than $2.3 million in permitted construction work.
LAFAYETTE, LA — A familiar Lafayette restaurant name appears headed for a prominent spot in a new commercial development taking shape just off Johnston Street.
Bangkok Thai is shown as the anchor tenant for a new multi-tenant shopping center currently under construction at 101 Gerald Drive, near the intersection of Gerald Drive and Johnston Street and across from Sterling Automotive.
For longtime Lafayette residents, Bangkok Thai isn't exactly a newcomer. The locally owned restaurant has been serving Thai food along the Johnston Street corridor for years, with its current restaurant located at 3904 Johnston Street.
A New Development Takes Shape
Plans for the Gerald Drive project show a modern 9,660-square-foot commercial center designed to accommodate several tenants, with Bangkok Thai occupying the development's most prominent space.
The project appears to be moving beyond the planning stage.
Construction has begun at the site, and building permits issued in September show more than $2.3 million in construction work associated with the development.
For anyone who regularly travels Johnston Street, it's another noticeable change along one of Lafayette's busiest commercial corridors.
What Does This Mean for the Current Bangkok Thai?
That's the big question.
Bangkok Thai currently operates only a few miles away at 3904 Johnston Street, but it has not been confirmed whether the Gerald Drive restaurant will replace the existing location or become an additional location.
So, for now, Lafayette diners shouldn't say goodbye to the current spot just yet.
What we do know is that Bangkok Thai has been identified on plans for the new development and construction on the center is underway.
A Familiar Name in Lafayette's Food Scene
Bangkok Thai has been part of Lafayette's restaurant landscape for well over a decade.
Its history on Johnston Street goes back to the former Pimon Thai location. When Pimon Thai relocated around 2010, two cooks remained at the original site and opened Bangkok Thai.
Over the years, the restaurant has become known for Thai favorites including Pad Thai and other noodle dishes, curries, fried rice, soups and customizable spice levels.
That history makes the restaurant an interesting choice to anchor a brand-new development. Rather than introducing another unfamiliar chain to Johnston Street, the project appears positioned to put an established Lafayette restaurant front and center.
More Changes Coming to Johnston Street
The new center adds another project to the continuing evolution of the Johnston Street corridor, where restaurants, retail businesses and commercial developments continue to reshape familiar stretches of Lafayette.
Several details about this particular project remain unanswered, including the other tenants planned for the center, Bangkok Thai's timeline and what ultimately happens with the restaurant's existing location.
But one thing is visible now: construction is underway, and Bangkok Thai is prominently featured in the plans.
We'll be watching this one.
📍 New Development: 101 Gerald Drive, Lafayette
🍜 Anchor Tenant: Bangkok Thai
🏗️ Size: Approximately 9,660 square feet
💰 Permitted Construction: More than $2.3 million
📅 Opening: Not yet announced
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