WILMINGTON — A well-known local business woman, whose restaurants have become a staple on Wilmington’s dining scene, has passed away.
Indochine founder Solange “Niki” Thompson died Tuesday, Dec. 18, surrounded by family at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center.
READ MORE: Solange Thompson reflects on 20 years running ILM’s most prized restaurant
ALSO: In Photos: Café Chinois officially opens, will expand by summer
The group announced her passing Thursday on social media, describing Thompson as a “giving, loving and dedicated” business woman and visionary, community member, and one of the area’s “most respected culinary voices.”
Thompson launched the first Indochine Vietnamese and Thai Restaurant on Wayne Drive in 2000, which has received numerous Best Of Awards throughout the years, including Best Restaurant, Asian Restaurant, Waitstaff and more.
She grew the popular brand in 2020, having started Indochine Express in Monkey Junction, before expanding onto Oleander Drive, in Southport and Leland. Thompson also purchased Cafe Chinois in 2021, blending French and Asian cuisines. Last year the restaurant portfolio entered into a financial restructuring plan to maintain fiscal health and efficiency; it hasn’t impacted operations at the eateries.
All restaurants will remain open in Thompson’s absence as well.
Thompson told Port City Daily four years ago her restaurants were her “happy place,” filled with passion and care.
“I put my heart in there,” she said, not only bringing authentic flavors of home to life, but designing each restaurant with a vivid color palette, unique Asian art, antiques and decor, all inspired by travel, creativity and imagination.
Thompson’s time on the greater Wilmington restaurant scene dates back 40 years, after she and her husband, Bob, moved to town in 1974. In the 1980s, Thompson opened The Egg Roll Factory in both Carolina and Wrightsville beaches. She briefly retreated from the restaurant business and went into antiquing with The Blue Dragon in downtown Wilmington — located beside the former Caffe Phoenix — before deciding to launch Indochine.
“She wanted to share her Vietnamese and French heritage,” her death announcement details, noting the rich history of Thai food enveloping hundreds of cultures.
With a proclivity for talking and engaging people at every turn of their restaurant experience, Thompson told Port City Daily that Indochine’s popularity — whose flagship eatery often goes on an immediate wait at the 5 p.m. dinner service — was possible due to hard work but mostly kindness. She leaned in on one tenet daily during all business interactions.
“We never say no to a customer,” Thompson said at the time. “My motto is the customer is the king.”
Thompson also credited her family for helping in the restaurants’ achievements. In a previous interview with Port City Daily, she said she always was inspired by her mother’s words.
“I realized what I received from my mother was the art of negotiation,” she said. “My mother did not give me money or anything. But she told me how to be kind to people and deal with people in a nice, honest way. So the only thing I can say to anyone is, if you give your children the art of negotiation, they can go anywhere. No money in their hand, they will survive. And they will make it and become successful.”
Thompson’s son, Rob “Boo” Thompson, told Port City Daily Thursday one of his mother’s favorite sayings was “true gold should be held to the fire” — which centers on having integrity and genuine faith in all you do, no matter the obstacles faced.
The family expressed appreciation to those who reached out to the restaurateur during her final days.
“[We] are grateful for everyone’s outpouring of support and visits paid to our mother,” the post on social media details, with the family also asking for privacy. “Your compassionate and uplifting words of encouragement, love, sympathy and support has helped us all through this difficult time.”
Thompson leaves behind her husband, Major Robert Thompson, of 53 years, three children — Marie Bartsch, Barbie Thompson-Kuehne and Rob “Boo” Thompson — four grandchildren, two sisters, four brothers, and countless extended family and friends.
Funeral arrangements in Wilmington are to come at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare on behalf of Solange “Niki” Thompson.
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