Crime News

Break-in temporarily shutters treasured Thai restaurant in Richardson

We need to get them back open so we can be slurping this soup.

Photo courtesy of Thai Soon

A treasured Thai restaurant in Richardson has had to close temporarily due to the damaging aftermath of a burglary: Thai Soon, located at 101 S. Coit Rd., suffered a break-in over the weekend that included one of the doors being broken and an outright theft of the cash register.

Coming on the heels of a difficult period in which COVID-19 had already taken its toll, the burglary rendered it impossible for the restaurant to open for business.

To help the restaurant get back on its feet, the owner's brother has launched a gofundme in an attempt to "make the restaurant whole again."

"Hi Everyone, My name is Arm Wongchingchai and I'm Irean's brother, she is the current owner of Thai Soon," he says. "Some of you may remember the first and original location on Greenville Avenue once managed by my mom she was also known to many locals as Ma Soon. For the last decade we have moved from that location to North Dallas due to the high cost of rent. My mom has since retired and Irean took over."

"With this pandemic and many others it has affected the business negatively," he says. "Then over the weekend, burglars broke the glass door located towards the back of the restaurant. They stole the register and there was so much damage that my sister had to close the shop."

The restaurant also lost one of its chefs.

Thai Soon first opened in 1987 and built its reputation for flavorful noodle and vegetarian dishes from its early days on Lower Greenville — one that kept it afloat when it moved to Richardson. However, the pandemic has definitely hurt business, and they had to cut back on staffing. There was talk they might close in December until the fine residents of Richardson rallied 'round and stepped up their orders.

Wongchingchai says he felt like he had to launch the gofundme, because he knew it was something his sister would never do.

"Irean as many of you know would never ever ask for a hand-out so i'm doing this without her knowledge at the best of my ability for her business," he says. "With the funds we will do our very best to make the restaurant whole again and do a better job to try to deter thieves."

The restaurant was able to get its door fixed, and is still waiting on its POS system. They are able to take Zelle, Venmo, exact cash, or online orders.

The total of the gofundme is $5,000. If you want to contribute, click here.

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Grandscape goals

Soccer and dining venue from the UK gears up for U.S. debut in The Colony

Photo courtesy of TOCA Social

TOCA Social will make its U.S. debut in Grandscape in The Colony.

In time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup frenzy taking hold of Dallas, a soccer-themed entertainment and dining venue from the United Kingdom will make its U.S. debut in DFW this spring: Called Toca Social, it will open at The Grandscape complex in The Colony on March 6.

First announced for Grandscape in 2024, Toca Social combines soccer, entertainment, and dining, with a state-of-the-art venue and innovative soccer-based games. (A Toca Social was originally planned for Dallas, but that location was scrapped.)

The concept was founded by two-time U.S. World Cup veteran and MLS player Eddie Lewis and is backed by soccer legend Abby Wambach. It's billed as "the world’s first soccer social club" and only has three other locations - two in London and one in Birmingham, England.

“Toca was born from my obsession with the technical side of the game and the belief that a soccer ball should be at everyone’s feet,” says Lewis in the release. “After seeing the incredible reception in the UK, bringing our Social flagship home to the U.S. — and specifically to a soccer-rich market like Dallas — is a dream realized. We’ve created a place where the skill of the pros meets the energy of a world-class night out.”

Toca Social soccer Toca Social coming to Granscape in March 2026. Toca Social

The 20,000-square-foot high-tech venue features "social boxes" where players kick soccer balls against a screen that keeps score on best kicks. Cleats are not required. They tout their proprietary ball-delivery and tracking technology — an evolution of the "small ball" training method Lewis used during his 14-year professional career, the release says.

“Soccer is the ultimate unifier, but for too long, the 'entry fee' was being a pro-level athlete,” says Wambach in the release. “Toca Social is changing that narrative. This Dallas-area flagship is where the next generation of American soccer culture is being built.”

Sustenance comes by way of a chef-driven “Global Street Food” menu featuring Birria Tacos and Spicy Fried Chicken; along with a bar program that includes something called a "Pitch Invader" cocktail, which the release does not describe but calls a fan favorite.

There are massive 4K screens, ensuring Toca Social will be a premier location for FIFA World Cup watch parties this summer. Nine World Cup matches will be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington in June and July. Dallas' Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center will serve as the official will also serve as the International Broadcast Center.

Toca currently operates another concept, Toca Soccer and Sports Centers, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with locations in Allen, Carrollton, The Colony, Keller, and Mansfield. The company also has a strategic partnership with MLS club, FC Dallas.

“Our partnership with MLS is a cornerstone of our mission to engage fans in innovative new ways,” says Yoshi Maruyama, CEO of Toca. “By launching our U.S. Flagship at Grandscape now, we are providing a world-class destination where fans can play, dine, and celebrate the global game."

Reservations are now open at Toca Social in Grandscape for group outings, celebrations, corporate events, and matchday gatherings.

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Raven Jordan contributed to this report.

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