logo
Google Play App Store
Log In subscribe and/or renew Eeditions
  • Home
  • E-Edition
    • This Week Newspaper
    • Archives
    • Local Shops
    • This is Westfield
    • Search the Archives
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Life Events
    • Community Calendar
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Classified
  • Legals
  • Advertise
    • Advertorial
    • Paid Political
    • Sponsored Content
  • subscribe and/or renew
  • Contact
    • Home
    • E-Edition
      • This Week Newspaper
      • Archives
      • Local Shops
      • This is Westfield
      • Search the Archives
    • News
    • Opinions
    • Sports
    • Community
      • Life Events
      • Community Calendar
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Obituaries
      • Submit an Obituary
    • Classified
    • Legals
    • Advertise
      • Advertorial
      • Paid Political
      • Sponsored Content
    • subscribe and/or renew
    • Contact
  • Home
  • E-Edition
    • This Week Newspaper
    • Archives
    • Local Shops
    • This is Westfield
    • Search the Archives
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Life Events
    • Community Calendar
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Classified
  • Legals
  • Advertise
    • Advertorial
    • Paid Political
    • Sponsored Content
  • subscribe and/or renew
  • Contact
    • Home
    • E-Edition
      • This Week Newspaper
      • Archives
      • Local Shops
      • This is Westfield
      • Search the Archives
    • News
    • Opinions
    • Sports
    • Community
      • Life Events
      • Community Calendar
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Obituaries
      • Submit an Obituary
    • Classified
    • Legals
    • Advertise
      • Advertorial
      • Paid Political
      • Sponsored Content
    • subscribe and/or renew
    • Contact
Maya Thai Celebrates Grand Opening
business spotlight
KATIE MOEN on
September 28, 2022
Maya Thai Celebrates Grand Opening

WESTFIELD — Last Monday, friends and family gathered together in the dining room of Maya Thai, one of Westfield’s newest eateries, for a special blessing ceremony meant to bring good luck and prosperity both to the business itself and the family behind it.

“These types of blessings are very important in our culture,” said owner Sunisa Martinez. “They represent a new start and a positive beginning.”

The ceremony was held under the direction of three Buddhist monks who led the gathered crowd in a series of call and response prayers before beginning a peaceful chant.

When the monks concluded their ceremony, the restaurant’s owners, staff and friends laid out a feast of offerings fresh from the eatery’s kitchen to thank the three men for leading the blessing and hopefully, Ms. Martinez said, bring further prosperity to the business.

“We have been very lucky so far,” said Ms. Martinez, who owns the restaurant with her sister, Ampika Kaewdang; her brother-in-law, Phattharaphon Phuetph (an experienced chef who has worked in numerous high-end Thai restaurants throughout the New York area), and other family members, many of whom were able to come out on Monday to celebrate Maya (pronounced MAY-a) Thai’s official grand opening. The eatery itself is named after Ms. Kaewdang’s daughter, Maya, who, at 3 years old, already has a sense of ownership of the place.

“We tell everyone she’s the owner,” Ms. Kaewdang said, smiling. “People have been very supportive, very excited to try different things. This has been a big change for us — we all just relocated here from Queens, so we’re still getting used to the area, but so far, we really love it.”

The family was later joined by Mayor Shelley Brindle, as well as representatives from the Downtown Westfield Corporation and the Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce, for an official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“It’s so good to see so many new restaurants opening up around here,” Mayor Brindle said. “We’re starting to see some great variety, and Maya Thai is a wonderful addition.”

“We opened a few months ago but we wanted to wait to have our grand opening until our sign was ready,” Ms. Martinez said, noting that like many other small businesses, Maya Thai ran into some supply-chain issues in looking to update its space. The building was formerly occupied by Xocolatz.

“We didn’t have to do too much,” Ms. Martinez said, adding that most of the changes [like the decorative array of statues that the family had imported from Thailand] were made in the main dining room to give the space a welcoming feel and a bit of personal character.

Maya Thai offers a wide selection of regional favorites like spring rolls, dumplings, Pad Thai, fried rice and curries, as well as a number of specialty dishes, customizable plates and vegetarian options.

The BYOB restaurant is located at 235 Elmer Street, Westfield, and is open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. For more information or to check out the menu, visit mayathaieatery.com.

ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Most Read
Westfield Advances Affordable-Housing Plan
Main, News
Westfield Advances Affordable-Housing Plan
By KATIE MOEN 
Thursday, May 15, 2025
195-233 Elm Street(Stop & Shop): 70 total units, 14 affordable 544-576 North Avenue East (formerly Stuart’s Audio): 54 total units, 11 affordable 221-...
this is a test
Westfield Council Introduces New OWP Redevelopment Agreement
Main, News
Westfield Council Introduces New OWP Redevelopment Agreement
By KATIE MOEN 
Thursday, May 15, 2025
WESTFIELD — On Tuesday, the Westfield Town Council passed an amended redevelopment agreement in connection with One Westfield Place (OWP) that would r...
this is a test
Main, News
Clark Planning Board Approves Coffee Drive Thru on Raritan Rd.
By DEVON GOHDE 
Thursday, May 15, 2025
CLARK — Earlier this month, the Clark Planning Board approved an application to install a 7 Brew Coffee franchise at 1005 Raritan Road the former site...
this is a test
Main, News
College To Expand Cranford Gymnasium
By MADOLYN LAURINE 
Thursday, May 15, 2025
CRANFORD — The Cranford Planning Board met Thursday to review architectural plans for a proposed gym expansion at Union County College in Cranford, an...
this is a test
Westfield BOE Hears Swastika Concerns From Student
Main, News
Westfield BOE Hears Swastika Concerns From Student
By MADOLYN LAURINE 
Thursday, May 22, 2025
WESTFIELD — The Westfield Board of Education met Tuesday to hear brief updates on the bond referendum projects set to begin in July, and to hand out i...
this is a test
This site complies with ADA requirements

© Copyright The The Westfield Leader

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy
This site complies with ADA requirements

© Copyright The The Westfield Leader