SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio restaurant tagged with racist, anti-Asian graffiti will reopen Thursday. 'Noodle Tree' owner Mike Nguyen said since the attack last weekend, he's receiving even more violent threats. However, the owner is ready to open Thursday.
"This is going to be the first day we are going to open up after the incident," he said.
The incident is being investigated as a hate crime by San Antonio Police. On Sunday when Nguyen showed up to noodle Tree hate greeted him. There was red graffiti with messages: 'Go back to China' and 'No Masks' covered the eatery.
"We have a couple of bad seeds out there," he said. "Maybe there not from San Antonio. We don't know."
The attack happened days after Nguyen appeared on CNN criticizing the ending of the statewide mask mandate. However, immediately after the hate it turned to love. Heartfelt messages now fill the doors. But, while he is receiving community support, the owner says the violent threats have also increased since the vandalism.
"I am getting calls where people want to find out where I live, and burn down my house, and burn down this building," the owner said.
The threats have him on edge for his own safety and his staff's. He said there are also rumors the vandalism was staged.
"They are making assumptions this is some kind of inside job, that myself or my staff had something to do with this," he said. That is absurd."
While the days have been challenging, his focus is getting back to business safely with the community behind him.
"We need to continue the positivity, the love and support," he said.
As of Wednesday, San Antonio Police told KENS 5 the investigation is still underway.
Noodle Tree plans to re-open Thursday at noon. Nguyen encourages everyone to call ahead. If you would like to support the restaurant, the owner encourages people to buy gifts cards. In return, he said email the digital gift card and they will use them to buy meals for people in the community.