Go HERE to read my co-worker's David Bracken's story on the .biz blog.

UPDATE: Samantha Hatem, a spokesperson for Empire Eats, says chef William D'Auvray still works for them despite Fai Thai converting to a catering facility. D'Auvray is a well-regarded chef for his previous Raleigh restaurants, Fins and bu.ku. Fins has since closed and bu.ku continues without him.

Developer Greg Hatem has closed his newest restaurant, Fai Thai, just three months after it opened in the downtown Raleigh space formerly occupied by Duck & Dumpling.

Hatem said today that he closed the restaurant so that its dining and kitchen space could be used to handle catering requests at his other downtown restaurants.

“We’ve turned down one to two events a week just in our spaces,” he said.

Hatem’s other downtown restaurants include Sitti, Gravy, Raleigh Times and The Pit.

Hatem partnered with William D’Auvray, formerly chef-proprietor of Fins and bu.ku, to open Fai Thai.