Owner of Popular Hukka Cafe Kanchanaburi Opens Up About Closure Decision

Hukka Cafe Kanchanaburi, a well-known establishment, has announced its closure on May 5th following years of success. The cafe, located in Tha Maka Subdistrict, Mueang District, Kanchanaburi Province, operated for over four years and became famous for its scenic setting amid lush rice fields and a miniature train that delighted young visitors and their families.

On April 4th, the owner Richtanon Jirakulthanarak, known as Mel, age 35, shared his story. He pioneered the concept of opening a restaurant and cafe in the middle of rice paddies in Tha Maka, which inspired other investors to follow suit and open similar establishments in the area.

Over the past four years, Mel invested more than 10 million baht in improving and enhancing the cafe's appeal to attract tourists to the area. The venture was quite successful initially. However, the decision to close resulted from multiple factors, primarily the current economic downturn. Operating costs continuously rose, but the cafe couldn't raise prices accordingly. Despite maintaining a steady customer base, profit margins became virtually nonexistent.

Mel had considered closing since mid-2024, but his concern for longtime employees who had been with him since opening kept the cafe operational. After notifying staff, he announced the May 5th closure date. Following the shutdown, he will wait to see if anyone is interested in leasing the space. If no one leases it by year's end, he may pursue other business ventures on the land, but for now, he needs to take a break as he can no longer sustain the operational burden.

Notably, between April and May, four famous cafes in Kanchanaburi Province announced closures, all citing severe economic hardship, rising input costs, increasing electricity bills, and raw material expenses as primary reasons.