Beloved Thai Restaurant Near Gaza Border to Close After 12 Years
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Ronnie's Produce, a popular Thai restaurant in the Gaza border region, will close on November 30, 2026, after 12 years of operation. Owners Eitan and Noy Nekar cited administrative reasons for the closure. The restaurant, known for using fresh produce from its own greenhouse, became a significant culinary destination in southern Israel. It had previously been damaged on October 7, 2023, but reopened and continued to draw customers.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ronnie's Produce, a Thai restaurant near the Gaza border, will close on November 30, 2026.
- The owners cited "administrative matters" as the reason for the closure after 12 years.
- The restaurant was known for integrating fresh produce from its own greenhouse into Thai dishes.
- It was a popular destination for diners traveling to southern Israel.
- The establishment was damaged on October 7, 2023, but reopened and continued to operate.
Ronnie's Produce, a well-known Thai restaurant in the Gaza border region, announced on Monday that it will cease operations at the end of November, after 12 years in business. The owners, Eitan and Noy Nekar, shared the decision via an Instagram story, citing "administrative matters" as the reason for the closure. The restaurant, located in Kibbutz Ein HaBsor in the Eshkol region, will continue to serve customers until its final day, November 30, 2026.
In their announcement, the owners expressed gratitude to their patrons for 12 years of shared joy and for the sense of family that developed at the establishment. The closure marks the end of a business that became a destination for many visiting southern Israel, known for its unique integration of fresh produce grown on-site with Thai cuisine.
The restaurant's journey began with the Nekars cultivating Asian vegetables, fruits, and herbs. What started as preparing Thai food for local workers evolved into a small stand, and eventually into the restaurant named after their daughter, Roni. A key feature was the use of ingredients from the adjacent greenhouse, which were incorporated into the Thai dishes, creating a dining experience that blended rural agriculture with culinary tourism.
Ronnie's Produce was particularly significant given the region's recent history. The restaurant sustained damage during the October 7, 2023, attacks but was subsequently renovated and reopened. Despite the challenges faced by residents of the Gaza envelope communities, the establishment managed to attract diners from across the country, underscoring its resilience and appeal.