Jan.
After announcing that Watecha Bowl would close as a restaurant and return to being a food truck, the owner has changed his mind.
Lawrence West, who owns the business with his wife, Sophie, said he suffered a stroke Dec. 24. That health scare led him to reevaluate the plan to close the storefront at 2305 W. Madison St. on Dec. 31.
“After the stroke, realistically I just can’t be out in the food truck. I can’t be out in terribly cold, terribly hot, high-stress environments.”
West said he reached out to his landlord again, and this time they were able to come to an agreement to lease the adjacent space in the retail center, which Watecha Bowl needs so it can offer seating and restrooms. He’ll gain access to the spot next door Feb. 1.
“As it sits right now, everything is in a good place. We will expand and work it out. As far as our food truck goes, we will fill the dates that we booked.”
He’s also partnering with a friend to give the food truck a new life serving traditional Laos food. “They do egg rolls, pho, fried rice, beef jerky, traditional Laos food.”
West said the thought of leaving the restaurant behind was putting an emotional and physical strain on him.
“I didn’t sleep for like 11 days leading up to the first of the month. I built this place, every screw, every tile, every, everything. I built this place.”
He’s at peace knowing customers can find the Indian tacos, buffalo stew, wojapi and other cooking Watecha Bowl is known for.
“People want us here. So whatever we have to do, even if we don’t get to expand and we have to move our restaurant forward so we can have seating in the winter, whatever we have to do, Watecha Bowl will stay here.”
Watecha Bowl to close restaurant, return to food truck life
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