FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – In a heartfelt TikTok video that has garnered over 3,800 views, 8-year-old Aiden Vachiratevanurak expresses his urgent plea to save his family’s restaurant, Mama Le, located in Richmond.
The restaurant is facing significant challenges due to a $4.6 million construction project near the intersection of Interstate 69 and State Highway 99.
“I do not want my family business to shut down,” Aiden states in the video, highlighting the dire situation they are facing.
Aiden’s mother, Christina Vachiratevanurak, shares that the construction has led to a staggering 30% drop in sales for their Vietnamese restaurant.
“Our sales have dropped more than 30% due to the construction,” she explains, expressing her concerns about how they will manage to pay their staff and rent.
The construction project has not only affected Mama Le but also other local businesses, such as Donor & Gyros. Owner Salim Tejani reveals that his establishment is losing between $3,000 to $4,000 a month due to the road closures.
“I don’t want to close down because this is my baby,” he shares, visibly emotional about having to let go of two long-time employees.
As construction crews work on the site, business owners lament that such activity is a rare sight, with many expressing frustrations over the lack of progress. Christina mentions that while Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter McCoy’s has visited to listen to their concerns, there has been no visible progress since then.
Aiden’s TikTok video has also caught the attention of State Representative Matt Morgan, who has reached out to Commissioner McCoy, urging him to expedite the project. The letter from Morgan’s office notes that the construction began in April 2024 and is expected to take 365 days to complete.
However, McCoy’s office told KPRC 2 that delays due to weather and supply chain issues have pushed the timeline further.
He sent KPRC 2 the following statement:
“Fort Bend County is a rapidly growing community, which forces the need for infrastructure projects like the Ransom Road Project. The frustrations of our local businesses and residents are real and understandable which is why I have met on-site and walked the project area with them to better understand their concerns and explore every way to reduce disruption. While frequent rain and utility conflicts have caused significant delays, we’re working closely with engineers and contractors to accelerate progress without compromising safety. The project remains on track for completion this fall, and we’re doing all we can to minimize further impact. I want our business owners to know that we hear them and will continue to show up and do everything we can to support them.” said Commissioner McCoy.
As Aiden and his family await updates, the young boy’s plea resonates deeply: “I don’t want to live on the street.” His message is clear: support is needed to save their family business and the livelihoods of those who depend on it.
“Support, support, support,” Aiden concludes in his TikTok video.