Solange Em Thompson

WILMINGTON - Solange "Niki" Thompson, born Oct. 8, 1951, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 18, surrounded by family at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center.

A giving, loving and dedicated woman, Solange was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to many, and will be remembered for her giving heart, loyalty, kindness, and culinary imprint left on Wilmington's dining scene over the last four decades.

She is preceded in death by her father Joseph Iliou of Brest, France, and her mother Pham Thi 'Em of Hue, Vietnam.

Solange is survived by her loving husband Major Robert N. Thompson; daughter Marie Bartsch née Thompson and her husband Ryan; daughter Barbara "Barbie" Thompson-Kuehne and her husband Michael; and son Robert N. Thompson Jr. and his wife Nele Braun-Thompson.

Solange also leaves behind numerous adoring siblings: Joseph Iliou of Saigon, Vietnam; Jean-Michel Iliou of Nice, France; Fouad Iliou of Brest, France, and Tarik Iliou; Jean-Marie Clark of Houston, Texas; and Sharazad Iliou of Brest, France; plus, numerous nieces and nephews.

Her greatest loves were her four grandchildren - Grace, Benjamin, Nicholas and Ryu.

Born in Hue, Vietnam, Solange pursued a career in public relations in Bangkok before marrying Bob in 1973. Together, they traveled and eventually settled in 1974 to raise their family in coastal North Carolina, where Bob served as base commander in Fort Fisher.

During this time - and after struggling to find a restaurant in town that suited her palate - Solange began teaching herself to cook authentic Asian cuisine, based on her family's recipes. This led to the opening of many restaurants in a 40-year career, as well as teaching Asian cooking classes in downtown's Cotton Exchange and even hosting segments on the popular "Jim Burns Show," produced by WECT.

In the 1980s, Solange opened The Egg Roll Factory in Carolina Beach, followed by another in Wrightsville Beach, before launching Mr. Chopstix on Market Street. In the 1990s, she left the industry for a brief period to follow another passion: antiquing. Solange opened downtown's The Blue Dragon, featuring varied art and artifacts from Vietnam.

She always desired to open an Asian art museum in the area and designed her restaurants to become an extension of that goal. Proud of Asian culture and customs, Solange even taught classes to children about her heritage at the Cape Fear Museum in the 1980s.

However, in 2000 she was drawn to the unique architecture of a building on Wayne Drive, to become the home of Indochine. It is a place where Solange married her passions - cooking, antiquing, art and gardening, as the restaurant's lush landscape and design has become a bright and colorful staple on Wilmington's dining scene.

In 2020, Solange extended the brand into Indochine Express, with locations in Wilmington, Southport and Leland, as well as Cafe Chinois.

With an unwavering desire to celebrate the rich tapestry of Asian traditions, particularly the hundreds of cultures that influenced Thai cuisine, Solange ensured her restaurants offered diners a unique experience. She was inspired by travel, creativity and imagination, with the restaurants' walls and nooks adorned with the Asian art, antiques and artifacts she collected. Solange often would share stories behind each piece with customers, bringing warmth to every interaction.

No diner was a stranger to the restaurateur, as she floated about during service at the Wayne Drive flagship to greet customers, new and old. Solange genuinely wanted to learn about their families, create a connection, oftentimes offering gifts from her vast assortment of Asian regalia, and ensuring every experience was memorable.

"Customer is king" was her motto and remains the focus of the Indochine family, as her children continue to operate the restaurants in her absence.

While the community will remember Solange's culinary reach, outside of business, family was the center of her universe - she was "La vi en Rose."

Her kindness, love and memories remain in all of the hearts of those she leaves behind.

Following a private Buddhist ceremony on Monday, Dec. 29, Solange's family will receive visitors between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Wilmington Funeral Chapel, 1535 S. 41st St.

In lieu of flowers, please, direct donations to Lower Cape Fear LifeCare Center in honor of Solange "Niki" Thompson.

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