HOUSTON — Just last month was the groundbreaking for the I-45 expansion. Now, with the project becoming a reality, businesses along its path will have to close their doors. One of those businesses is Kim Son, a Houston staple. It's a family business on Jefferson that has been at its location for over 40 years.
"We opened up our first restaurant in 1982," said Tao La, the restaurant's chief operating officer.
It started as a small mom and pop business and transformed into a 400-seat restaurant and event venue; the American dream for the La family.
"We came here with zero," La said. "We used to stay in a two-bedroom apartment with 12 people."
Tao La said his family worked hard and saved money to open Kim Son, just like the one they had in Vietnam.
"My mom worked 16 to 18 hours," La said. "She gets up and goes to work."
And now, they have two locations -- the flagship restaurant east of downtown and the Bellaire location. But now their first restaurant will have to shut its doors due to the I-45 expansion, a $13 billion project that aims to reduce congestion and re-route I-45.
Kim Son will have to close its doors because a main structure of the freeway will built where the restaurant is now.
"Where the big pillar will be," La said.
Though the family says they don't have an exact date on when they will shut down, they believe it might be the end of 2025 or beginning of 2026. Whenever it happens, it will be somber day for the family.
"Probably we are going to cry that day," La said. "I was there from the beginning in my 20's."
But they are now left with no choice and say they have to turn the page..
"It's just the next chapter," La said.
Even though the family says the restaurant will close, it's not the end of the family business. They do have a little piece of land left there and hope to be able to build a smaller restaurant here in the future.