Grand Strand restaurant owner finds $12,000 in cabinet, returns it to previous owner

WMBF News reports that MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - The owner of a Grand Strand Thai restaurant found $12,000 stashed in a cabinet left behind by the previous owner and tracked him down to return it.

Sak Yiengjuntuek, the owner of Lemon Grass Thai Restaurant, bought the restaurant in April 2025 and moved the cabinet outside behind the building.

“I mean, someone can literally look at that and open the drawer and get the money and never return,” Yiengjuntuek said.

A fire at the Wholesale Furniture Gallery next door knocked out electricity to the restaurant, forcing it to close for several months.

“We got the power back on like a week or two weeks ago,” Yiengjuntuek said.

“Then I tried to clean up, and I tried to move that cabinet back to my house, and that’s what I found, I was shocked.” As Yiengjuntuek cleaned up the back of the restaurant, he went through the cabinet and discovered cash hidden inside a sunglass case.