Owner says Latitude Eight is closed for good, but his new Thai restaurant will open next week across town

Confirming what many Latitude Eight fans have suspected, owner David Fliger says his acclaimed Thai restaurant in downtown Chandler officially has closed.

But those who crave its Pad Thai, curries, and seafood entrees need not fret. Fliger is opening a much larger Thai restaurant across town – offering most of same menu – next week.

The new place is called Chao (pronounced “chow”), named after Thailand’s Chao Phraya River, and is located on the northeast corner of Dobson and Germann with BLD, Oregano’s, Nando’s, and Uncle Bear’s.

Chao will feature an airy dining room, a large indoor-outdoor bar area with two fire pits, a private dining room, and a huge wrap-around patio. (Pictured above is an artist’s rendering.)

The restaurant will host a “friends and family” practice dinner tonight, then open to the public next week after clearing its final inspections.

And what’s happening with Latitude Eight’s space at Arizona Avenue and Boston Street, which only had been open a couple random days this month? Look for a new restaurant called Charm Thai from the owners of Thai Basil.