A venerable Thai staple of Boston's Beacon Hill, King & I, has permanently closed its doors. The decision follows the recent passing of founder Kent Nandhavan, marking the end of an era for this neighborhood eatery that has been a fixture since its opening over forty years ago.

The restaurant ceased operations last Saturday and the shuttering was confirmed by a note posted at the former location at 145 Charles Street. According to a Boston Globe report, King & I was already a beloved institution among locals and Massachusetts General Hospital staff before this closure.

King & I's legacy intertwines with the Nandhavan family's journey, who arrived in the United States from Thailand in the 1970s. Kent Nandhavan, with a background in hospitality, ambitiously launched one of the few Thai dining options in Boston at the time, introducing dishes such as Pad Thai and Krapow to the city's culinary landscape.

"It was such a different time," Jesse Nandhavan, the son of Kent, told Boston.com. "If you had asked your average person on the street where Thailand was on the map, they probably had no idea. It was cool that dad took a risk, and it paid off in the end." The Nandhavan family has made the arduous decision to absolutely not continue the business following Kent's death.

The restaurant, a champion of affordability amidst Beacon Hill's upscale milieu, managed to create a loyal base of customers over the years thanks to its stable roster of employees – some of whom served as long as 35 years – and the management of Supranee "Miow" Methapornpong until her death in 2017. "Being next to MGH, the doctors would come in, knowing us and knowing my father," Darrin Nandhavan, Kent's daughter, recounted in memories shared with Boston.com. "It was just a special place."

As for the future of the Charles Street space that housed a dream, Jesse Nandhavan hopes it'll be something that continues to be accessible. However, the next identity of this prime Beacon Hill location remains uncertain at the moment. The restaurant's closure not only marks the loss of a culinary staple but also the end of a family legacy that nourished the community for decades.