Meet Nattapon, Owner of The Pad Thai Stand (Story 28/40)
Growing up in City Heights, Nattapon Ranma Thitathan could only envision what his future would entail. Today, he is a self-made international business owner. His businesses include a media company in Thailand and a restaurant chain in San Diego known as the Pad Thai Stand. Curious about his upbringing and business success, I interviewed him during a recent event at Tierra Central.
What makes City Heights special to you?
“History. When I was growing up, a lot of the Asian communities had barely moved in from Asia. I'd say we grew up with a lot of uncertainties about our futures, and how we were going to make it. Growing up with government aid and around different races. A lot of integration.”
The uncertainty inspired his business pursuit. Nattapon learned money yields power, not in the sense of oppressing or controlling others, but in the sense of providing what one needs to live.
“Sometimes at the end of the day, it's about survival. And survival comes with using what you know to make do with your daily expenses.
When I did business, I did it under the understanding that I would do it to survive. But as business progressed, I was able to invest in a better future, buy a house, hire employees and open a brick-and-mortar. And as time progresses, I'm sure business will bring more additions to my life.”
Nattapon posing at the Pad Thai Stand booth during Tierra Central’s Food Truck Festival. The Pad Thai Stand regularly attends Tierra Central’s evening events offering an array of pad Thai dishes.
Nattapon’s upbringing inspired the ideas, but his determination and grit brought him the success he is experiencing today.
“Discipline is the most core thing that you can ever hold to heart. There's nothing you're entitled to. You have to take it upon yourself to learn what they learn and know what they know.
There are three things that run my life: You have to be smarter, quicker and braver than your opponent.
If you have an idea, you have to be smart enough to formulate it into something tangible, otherwise, someone else will do it better than you and will take your idea. If you're not quick enough and if you're not brave enough, then someone who is quicker and braver will take your idea.”
His final advice for aspiring business owners and entrepreneurs:
“If anyone is going to do business, you have to go in there with an open mind and ready to change yourself and better yourself at all times.”
Nattapon’s business story is an emblem of resilience, one that reasserts the City Heights community is not only capable but worthy of business success on a larger scale.
You can visit the Pad Thai Stand at various locations:
Tuesdays: Pacific Beach Tuesday Farmer’s Market, 2-6pm (Winter Hours)
Thursdays: Oceanside Sunset Market, 5-9pm
Saturdays: Del Mar Farmer’s Market, 1-4pm
Sundays: Lanefield Park Farmer’s Market, 10am-4pm
Or you can visit their location:
3520 Ashford St UNIT A1, San Diego, CA 92111
