“Everybody in Gorham is going to love my wife’s cooking!” says Kendall Libby, co-owner of the new Southeast Asian restaurant opening in Gorham called Sweet Thai. He and his wife, Mok Libby, have “always wanted to have a restaurant, so it’s nice to see it come together!”

Sweet Thai is family owned and family oriented. It’s a “Mom and Pop kind of place,” says Kendall, as he and Mok have two sons and a daughter who’ve already worked in Thai cuisine. They are excited to come together to operate their new business. Although they have curated a wide menu, which might eventually feature a special student menu for GHS and USM students, they are most excited about their appetizers. From crab rangoon to spring rolls, the Libbys described their appetizers as being able to make up an entire meal. Featuring steak, chicken, salmon and more, the menu will be vast and undoubtedly delicious.

In Nov. 2024 when Iaia Brazil was closing, the Libbys contacted its owner, Claudia Silva, to inquire about the space. Since then, they have been working to bring their restaurant to life. Although they had previously attempted to open in a few other towns, the Libbys are excited to end up in Gorham, which Kendall Libby describes as a “great place. We’re right in the village, which is awesome.” The restaurant will be located at 18 Elm Street, Suite 1.

Throughout the process of bringing the restaurant together, the family described a mix of excitement and setbacks. They did their best to take each step “a day at a time. Some days came well, while others we needed to wait,” and on those days they continued to pray to God as a family of faith and work hard to make their dream a reality. On April 1, Sweet Thai passed a crucial inspection and is now only awaiting approval from the state. Once approved, hopefully by May 1, Sweet Thai will be open to all!

“It’s been a long road, but we’re almost there,” Kendall Libby says, “and we are excited to see it finally happen!