A 37-year-old Dee Why restaurant faces demolition if plans for a new five-storey shop-top housing development are approved, leaving the future of The Thai and I uncertain.
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The family-run Thai restaurant, which opened in 1989, operates from the ground floor of a two-storey building on The Strand, about 25 metres from the beach.
The site is now the subject of a development application proposing demolition of the existing building and construction of a new shop-top housing complex. The restaurant has operated in Dee Why since 1989 and has developed a long-standing presence in the suburb.
The restaurant’s operators want to keep the business in Dee Why and have raised the possibility of leasing space in the proposed building. The development proponent, however, said discussions with restaurateurs about the proposed ground-floor tenancy had not yet commenced. The operators have also indicated they would consider another location in the suburb if remaining at The Strand is not possible.
What The Proposal Includes
The development application (DA2026/0913) was lodged in July 2026 and is currently on public exhibition from August 5 to September 2.
According to documents lodged with the application, the proposed $13.237 million project would involve demolition of the existing building and construction of shop-top housing, including in-fill affordable housing and strata subdivision.
The plans include two ground-floor retail tenancies and four residential levels containing 12 apartments. Three apartments are proposed to be allocated as affordable housing. The development also includes two basement car parking levels and associated parking for the residential and commercial components.
The existing site contains The Thai and I on the ground floor, with several small apartments on the level above. The application remains under assessment and has not been approved.
Restaurant’s Future Remains Uncertain
Whether The Thai and I could return to the site would depend in part on the size and suitability of any future retail premises. The restaurant’s operators have raised the possibility of leasing space in the proposed building. The development proponent, however, said discussions with restaurateurs about the proposed ground-floor tenancy had not yet commenced.
The development proponent has said it would be open to discussions with the restaurant when the appropriate stage of the project is reached. Nearby Italian restaurant Stella Blu recently closed after 34 years, with the building it occupied also being redeveloped for apartments.
The Thai and I’s operators have said they want to keep the restaurant operating in Dee Why, including at another site if necessary. The development proponent says the project is aimed at providing greater housing choice, particularly for downsizers seeking to remain in the area. The proposal also includes affordable housing intended to be managed by a community housing provider for eligible households.
The restaurant’s future remains unresolved while the development application moves through the assessment process.
Read: Dee Why Restaurant Stella Blu Nears Final Service After 34 Years
The proposal could bring a significant change to the restaurant’s long-standing location on The Strand, but its future in Dee Why remains open as the planning process continues. Public submissions on the proposal can be made during the exhibition period, which closes this September.
Published 15-August-2026
