Today we’d like to introduce you to Larpin Butchareon.
Hi Larpin, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My parents are Thai immigrants who came to the United States in the 1980s chasing the American Dream. They arrived with just a couple dollars in their pockets and worked tirelessly to build a better life for our family.
After much encouragement from friends and family, they took a huge leap of faith and opened our restaurant in 1996. At the time, Thai food was still very unfamiliar to many people in Middle Tennessee. We were one of the first Thai restaurants — if not THE first Thai restaurant — in Murfreesboro, TN. Opening a Thai restaurant back then was a big risk.
The early years were not easy, but my parents continued to work hard, hustle, and believe in what they were building. We owe so much of our success to our local community. Without the support, encouragement, and word-of-mouth from the amazing people of Murfreesboro, we would not be where we are today.
Now, nearly 30 years later, we are still going strong and continue sharing our food, culture, and family traditions with the community we love. We started in a small hole-in-the-wall location, and today we are proud to be in the restaurant space we were able to build and design ourselves.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Of course, like any new business, there were struggles and challenges along the way — especially starting a restaurant. One of the biggest challenges early on was simply getting people to take a chance and try our food. Like I mentioned earlier, back when we first opened, many people in our community had never experienced Thai food before. Introducing a completely different cuisine to Middle Tennessee in the 1990s was not easy.
What helped my parents overcome that challenge was who they were as people. Their personalities, kindness, and ability to make others feel comfortable allowed them to share not only our food, but also our culture, with the local community. They had never owned or operated a restaurant before, so there were many lessons learned through trial and error over the years. But they kept pushing forward and continued learning every step of the way.
Fast forward to the last 10 years or so, and a new challenge emerged — competition. We went from being one of the only Thai restaurants in town to seeing Thai restaurants on nearly every corner. We knew we had to find ways to separate ourselves from the rest.
I believe what helped us stand out was our consistency and our commitment to maintaining the same “mom and pop” atmosphere we’ve always had. When people come to our restaurant, we want it to feel like they’re coming into our home to eat. We are family-run, and that family feeling has always been at the center of everything we do. Even today, my mom still comes out of the kitchen to greet customers. It’s always been more than just a restaurant to us — it’s a place where people feel welcomed, comfortable, and at home.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My parents started the restaurant when I was in second grade, so for most of my life, this business is all I’ve really known. I grew up in the restaurant — doing homework in booths, helping where I could, and watching my parents work tirelessly every single day.
But I also had an 11-year hiatus away from the family business. After high school, I attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where I majored in marketing and minored in international business. After graduating, I began a career in logistics and stayed with the same company for seven years.
During that time, my parents never pressured me to come back home or take over the restaurant. They allowed me to live my own life, gain experience, and figure things out on my own. But in 2018, I finally received “the call.”
At the time, my father was dealing with health issues, and my parents were struggling to balance both the demands of the restaurant and his illness. Deep down, I think I always knew that one day I would return home to help with the family business. But at that moment, it simply felt like the right time — to be with my family and support the people who had sacrificed so much for all of us.
My parents are very old school, and naturally, they ran the restaurant that way too. When I came back home, one of my goals was to help modernize the business and bring it into the 21st century. I introduced new technology, systems, and ideas that I had learned during my time away. It was important to me to make things more efficient, less stressful, and easier for everyone while still preserving the heart and traditions that made our restaurant special in the first place.
What matters most to you?
For me, it’s about maintaining what my parents built and never forgetting our roots. Their hard work, sacrifices, and the values they built this restaurant on are the foundation of everything we do today.
One thing that has always made our restaurant special is how we treat our customers. To us, they are not just clients walking through our doors — they are family. That personal connection and sense of community is something my parents have provided since day one, and it’s something I never want to lose.
Nowadays, true “mom and pop” restaurants are becoming harder and harder to find. So many places feel rushed, corporate, or impersonal. I want our restaurant to continue being a place where people feel welcomed, comfortable, and cared for — just like they’re eating in our home.
That family atmosphere, that authenticity, and that connection to our community is what my parents worked so hard to build over the last 30 years. My goal is to continue carrying that forward for the next generation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thebangkokthai.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebkktn
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1EQGzSoaR2/?mibextid=wwXIfr
