Emerald of Siam Seeks $100K to Survive Required Kitchen Overhaul

RICHLAND, Wash., May 19, 2026 — For more than 40 years, the Emerald of Siam has been a fixture of life in Richland, a place where generations of Tri-Cities residents have eaten pad thai, heard live music, and gathered as a community in a way that few restaurants in this part of Washington have ever managed. Now, a required kitchen overhaul that started out sounding straightforward has turned into a $100,000 problem, and the owners are asking the people who love this place to help save it.

The restaurant announced on social media that city and fire code requirements now mandate it replace the hood system in its kitchen. What the owners initially hoped would be a contained equipment swap quickly expanded into something far more complex, and far more expensive. Because of the age of the existing hood, the project requires relocating gas lines, electrical systems and fire suppression infrastructure throughout the kitchen. The total cost of the work, plus the financial impact of the temporary closure needed to complete it, is estimated at $100,000.

Emerald of Siam GoFundMe campaign raises $20,000 in a single day

The restaurant's owners launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise the funds. By midday on May 19, the campaign had already collected approximately $20,000, a sign of just how much goodwill this restaurant has built over four decades in the community.

The owners have been clear about what the numbers actually mean for the restaurant's survival. Reaching the full $100,000 goal would cover both the construction work and the lost revenue during the temporary shutdown. But the owners have also said publicly that raising at least half that amount, $50,000, will likely determine whether they can start the work and keep the restaurant alive long term.

"What initially sounded like a simple equipment replacement has turned into a much larger project," the owners wrote on the GoFundMe page.

A 40-year institution that became more than a restaurant

Ravadi Quinn opened the Emerald of Siam in 1983 on the Jadwin Avenue side of the Uptown Shopping Center, near the Uptown Theatre. At the time, there was not a single other restaurant in the Tri-Cities dedicated to Thai cuisine. Quinn built something that no one had yet offered this community, and it stuck.

Over the decades, the Emerald grew into something bigger than a dining room. It became a live performance space, a gathering spot for musicians and artists, a home for community organizations, and a consistent supporter of nonprofits across the Tri-Cities. The combination of food and culture under one roof gave the restaurant a role in this city that most businesses never achieve.

That history is precisely what makes this moment so high-stakes. For longtime regulars, the Emerald is not just a place to eat, it is a piece of the city's identity.

Owners: The goal is to stay, not to walk away

The owners have been direct about their intentions in the face of this challenge. They are not looking for a way out. They are not exploring a relocation or a rebrand. They want to fix the kitchen, reopen the doors, and keep doing exactly what they have been doing for the past 40-plus years.

"Our goal is not to relocate or walk away. Our goal is to stay here, serving this community, supporting local music, employing our staff, and continuing to be a place where people gather for years to come," the restaurant wrote in its public appeal.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the campaign can do so at the restaurant's GoFundMe page at gofund.me/c3722fba8.