A year after a devastating fire tore through their old shop, Ruk Thai's new premises is now open for business.

A queue of people lined up outside Thai restaurant's new premises last Thursday.

Comments have been coming thick and fast on Facebook too, as the word has been spreading that Paul and Somjit Mahem and their son Art are back in business.

Family-owned restaurants Ruk Thai and Curry Planet were both forced to close their doors in January 2020.

Neighbouring business Bladed N Faded Barber Shop on Chadwick Road had been the target of two separate fires on December 31 2019 and January 27 2020. The second fire destroyed the shop and the two nearby businesses.

Paul and Somjit Mahem had served up Thai cuisine from their Greerton restaurant for the previous eight years, and the fire took a huge financial and emotional toll on the family.

The family had no income insurance and at the time of the fire, Art said starting from zero again had hit his parents the hardest, as they had been planning to retire within the next ten years.

Paying bills, relocating the restaurant, and finding a new job were just some of the things Art had to juggle.

Somjit and Paul Mahem with their son Art Mahem at their new premises.

'It's been a very hard year,” says Art.

'It's hard work to try and build a place and go through paperwork at Council. It's the paperwork that takes a long time to get.”

The three have relocated to what was once the local stationery shop at 123 Chadwick Rd, keeping the same red colour theme.

'Because it was going to take too long to rebuild the old building, that's why we had to try and find somewhere else in Greerton.

'But it turns out paperwork takes as long as rebuilding the new place. So they're finished at the same time.”

'I posted on our Facebook page on opening day, and it was so busy. People were lining up outside. Some customers brought flowers.”

Art says his parents are also happy to be back working again.

'As a start it's just the three of us working here, and we may take on more staff.”

Art likes the new location further along Chadwick Rd.

'It's a bit different. There's more parking and foot traffic.”

Ruk Thai is open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, closing at 9.30pm.

The new Ruk Thai premises are at 123 Chadwick Rd, Greerton.