Tup Tim Thai restaurant in Seattle's Uptown neighborhood closing after more than 33 years

After serving Seattle for more than 33 years, Tup Tim Thai in the Uptown neighborhood is closing — possibly for good.

During an interview Monday with the SeattlePI, the restaurant’s owner, Nat Chien, said the decision came after the property owner said the building would be torn down in January. The restaurant’s last day at its current location will be Dec. 18.

“Thank you everyone for supporting us for over 33 years,” Chien said. “I love our customers very much. We’ve made so many memories together.”

The property at 118 W. Mercer St. is owned by SRM Development, which has offices in Spokane and Kirkland. A design proposal submitted to the city shows the company plans to turn the property into an apartment complex. The new building will have 113 units, according to the proposal.

Chien says it’s possible he’ll open the restaurant at a new location. He said he’d keep the restaurant’s Facebook page up so he can post updates should there be any. The news that Tup Tim Thai would be closing was first posted on restaurant's Facebook page Friday.

 “We would like to inform everyone that our final day of service will be Dec. 18,” Chien wrote. “Thank you very much for supporting us for over 33 years.”

Users lamented the news in the comment section of the post.

“Nat, this is the worst news, Tup Tim Thai is the best of Seattle,” Bill Aubuchon wrote. “Wishing you and the team the best in whatever you move on to!”

“I moved from lower Queen Anne to Ballard awhile back. But I’m always talking about Tup Tim Thai,” David Mayden wrote. “It was a weekly or twice-a-week stop for 10 years. I’m going to miss this place. Restaurants and bars come and go, some you feel the absence more than others. This one is really going to sting."

Seattle's food scene was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many longtime bars and restaurants permanently closing their doors. In recent months, however, Seattle has seen a slew of new restaurant openings as businesses begin to rebound from the pandemic lows.