DeKalb to give up to $25K toward new Thai Pavilion location

DeKALB – The DeKalb City Council authorized spending up to $25,000 for exterior improvements to the new Thai Pavilion location at 251 E. Lincoln Highway during its meeting last Monday.

Sam Wong, owner of the property of the restaurant’s current location at 131 E. Lincoln Highway, plans to make interior and exterior improvements to the building to make it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

He asked for a $25,000 tax increment financing loan from the city to cover 40.6 percent of the cost of the exterior work, which is estimated at $61,000.

Wong also is undertaking interior renovations that will cost about $130,000, according to city documents.

City officials determined that the best source of funding for the project would be through the Architectural Improvement Program, which could cover work on the outside of the building but not inside.

Some of the work also would benefit a neighboring business, Urban Grace, which shares the building with the new restaurant site, as it would include replacing the awning so it matches with Thai Pavilion and installing new signage.

The council unanimously approved the resolution, with Mayor John Rey voicing appreciation to Wong for his investment to a downtown-area business.

“It’s a good role model that we’d like to see repeated,” Rey said.