PARIS— Paris’ newest restaurant has opened its doors.
Owner Thy Sumvan, a Cambodian refugee, settled in Alabama in 1981. Later, Sumvan would relocate to Northern California where she would raise four children in the middle of the Redwoods. “I always wanted to retire in the southern states,” shared Sumvan. “Passing through Paris in August 2020 I saw the beautiful Abbey, courthouse, and Mount Magazine. With all the rivers and lakes, I fell in love with this beautiful, quiet town.”
In October 2020, Sumvan would buy a home and move to Paris. “Six months of doing nothing drove me crazy. I bought this building and started repairs from the inside out. It took a full, long year but my partner/manager Thelma Bickford and I are ready to get this door open.”
That drive and determination paid off, on Wednesday, June 15, the Paris Cafe opened its doors. The cafe is open to dine-in or take-out. They serve burgers, fries, milkshakes, soft-serve ice cream, as well as southeast Asian food. Sumvan noted that due to supply shortages, some items might not be available every day.
“I would like to say a huge thank you to the City of Paris, Devon Carlisle Roofing, David Rogers Air Conditioning, David Robertson of Six Miles Electric, David with Crown Donuts and Suzanne with Paris Realty. Without their help or last-minute calls to the rescue, I would not have made it through this ordeal. So, thank you all so much.”
With hours and days of operation subject to change, the Paris Cafe is open Tuesday – Sunday from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. The Paris Cafe is located at 1715 W. Walnut St. in Paris.
