The lack of lease renewal in 2021 put a damper on their new journey and success. That year to year and a half was what he describes as the worst time for his family.
Because the original location technically had two spaces, Baez remembers his parents asking if they could keep one of the spaces.
The response was yes, but only for six more months.
“I remember us being so confused, but also so sad. It was pouring rain outside, and I could see my dad sitting outside on a chair just crying. That’s the best way I can describe the situation,” Baez says. “We didn’t know what to do.”
The light at the end of the tunnel was finally finding a new location that felt right. Claudia was taking a walk around our neighborhood when a two-story pecan tree at one end of a West Davis property inspired her.
“My parents just looked up and thought it was closed, and then my mom saw the tree, and she fell in love with the tree, and then from there, we got in contact with the landlord here, which we didn’t know my parents had known for years,” Baez says. “So everything ended up working together and working out. We stayed in the area, and then we moved over here, and it took about six to nine months to open the new spot.”
After closing in September 2021, the newly combined Chan Thai & Pho 88 was able to reopen in March 2022.
Each concept still has its own distinct menu.
The Chan Thai menu serves appetizers like a bowl of edamame ($5.95), soups like the coconut milk-based tom kha gai ($8.95) that can add a choice of chicken, shrimp or tofu, and noodle dishes like pad key mow ($14.95) that can come at the spice levels of one through six.