By William Smith
When Pookie’s Thai Cuisine opens for business this Wednesday, it will be a welcome addition to downtown Burlington's eateries.
Burlington has been buzzing about the opening for weeks — a hive of goodwill curated by restaurant owner Wilailuk "Pookie" Keomanivong. She’s been serving Thai food at Digger’s Rest coffeehouse a few days a week for the past few years, building a loyal customer base.
“People keep asking, when is it going to happen? When is it going to happen?” she said.
Although the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic delayed the restaurant's opening by a few weeks, Keomanivong never considered backing out. Pookie’s Thai Cuisine is her American dream.
“She’s got a lot of guts, opening a restaurant with COVID going on,” said her landlord, Joe Dejesus.
Keomanivong purchased Digger’s Rest about five years ago from a friend who moved back to Thailand.
Digger’s Rest had a loyal following of caffeinated early birds, but as Keomanivong began adding lunch specials, that following grew. Her Thai food quickly became a favorite at the Jefferson Street Farmers Market, often selling out before the market closed.
Seemingly oblivious to her own charm, Keomanivong credits her customers for her success.
“The customers are like family to me. They are really nice to me. Everyone loves me, and everybody is helping me a lot,” she said.
As a young girl growing up in Thailand, Keomanivong was impatient to explore the world. It only made sense that she would end up in the United States. She has been here for 20 years now, happily living in her adopted hometown of Mount Pleasant.
“We thought about moving to Philadelphia or Alabama, but it wasn’t safe there for my kids,” she said. “Mount Pleasant is safe.”
As confident as she is, Keomanivong never imagined owning two businesses. Both businesses are staffed largely by her family. Her husband, Lorm Keomanivong, is the head chef. Her daughter, Nikkie Conwell, is the manager.
“We want to show our culture,” Pookie said, noting that her children also know how to cook. “We love home cooking, not restaurant cooking.”
Located in the former Hobby Craft Shop at 803 Jefferson St., the interior of Pookie’s Thai Cuisine has authentic touches, such as hanging lights taken from a local church that complement the high ceiling. The wooden floor has been replaced with wood-like ceramic tile.
Dejesus said he did his best to keep the original wood floor, but it was just too damaged to save. The entire renovation took a little over six months.
“This is a total gut job,” he said.
Keomanivong hosted a private party for her most loyal customers on Monday. For Keomanivong, fondness for her customers and love of heritage fuel her passion for business.
“I put my heart into it,” she said.
The soft opening of the restaurant is July 1 through July 3, with a limited menu. After closing down July 4 through July 6, it will be open with a full menu starting July 7. Regular hours will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m., and the restaurant will be closed Mondays.
Photo by William Smith
A customer at Pookie's Thai Cuisine holds up rice noodles from a bowl of Pho during a private party on Monday at the newly opened downtown Burlington restaurant.