Construction has started on the NE corner of NW 25th & Classen for Bun Box in the Asian District.

Will feature Vietnamese vermicelli noodle bowls, with drive-thru and patio seating. Inspired by traditional Vietnamese street food.

Operator is Jenny Nguyen who also runs Lees Sandwiches. Design by @gardner.studio.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bunbox1.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bunbox2.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bunbox3.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bunbox4.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bunbox6.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bunbox042022a.jpg

Excellent.

Can't wait

awesome. Hopefully more infill coming to the Asian District, especially residential density.

They were going like gang busters but no activity for months seems like.

They were going like gang busters but no activity for months seems like.

Pete said the other day that this is going to open in a month or so.

I checked with the owner again today (Jenny Nguyen) and she said they have pushed the opening back until May.

Jenny is a new mom and she's planning to take her baby to Vietnam for an extended visit.

I noticed they have a little row of plants on the top part of the building.

Also that drive thru could get backed up into the stree

I saw a mention for the Asian Night Market this weekend that it is going to include the grand opening of Bun Box.

I noticed a help wanted sign on their building the other day.

Chef Danny Bowien is also going to come back for the Asian Night Market and do a collab meal with Bun Box. Should be a great event again this year.

They posted today that they were giving out free shrimp spring rolls.

They posted today that they were giving out free shrimp spring rolls.

They posted that they will do something similar today. So watch the Stories on their Instagram and they will let people know what is free today.

They will be doing it again today, free shrimp spring rolls!

I walked by this location last night around 7pm. The line waiting to get their food was long, maybe 50 people deep.

We had it. Very limited menu for the festival obviously but the bun was outstanding.

Was able to get some last night. It was delicious and they also served Lee's Coffee with it. I can't wait for the full menu to be available.

18228

Was able to get some last night. It was delicious and they also served Lee's Coffee with it. I can't wait for the full menu to be available.

18228

Do they have a website?

Do they have a website?

It appears they do not yet. I am sure they are working on one, but they have been killing it on Instagram and seem to be getting tons of traffic from that.

The owner of Bun Box has stated she will be closing Bun Box for good.

The owner of Bun Box has stated she will be closing Bun Box for good.

It never looked open (even when it probably was).

Did anyone even try it? I drive by there all the time and never thought to.

It never looked open (even when it probably was).

Did anyone even try it? I drive by there all the time and never thought to.

I tried it once and thought it was fine and then never went back. Just too many better options.

I loved it, but it was impossible to tell what it was without already knowing, and also impossible to tell if it was open without pulling through the drive thru

I drive by there every day and it almost blends in as just another building. They need to dress up the outside so that you notice it.

It never looked open (even when it probably was).

Did anyone even try it? I drive by there all the time and never thought to.

I enjoyed it and would make it there maybe once or twice a month. I think it struggled with a lack of options and no parking at all. It was a reasonable effort.

I enjoyed it and would make it there maybe once or twice a month. I think it struggled with a lack of options and no parking at all. It was a reasonable effort.

One thing that was always awkward was that this business model in that location was very "drive-thru" focused but the food always took as long to come out as at a counter service restaurant. Maybe the issue is my mentality but it was always hard to square sitting in my car that long.

One thing that was always awkward was that this business model in that location was very "drive-thru" focused but the food always took as long to come out as at a counter service restaurant. Maybe the issue is my mentality but it was always hard to square sitting in my car that long.

I rarely used the drive-thru. I live close by and would walk and have dinner there. This is another reason for its struggle. If you have a drive-thru, you need to have food ready to go.

One thing that was always awkward was that this business model in that location was very "drive-thru" focused but the food always took as long to come out as at a counter service restaurant. Maybe the issue is my mentality but it was always hard to square sitting in my car that long.

Similar experience.

One time I ordered food for pickup, drove over, and pulled into the drive-thru line for pickup. The car in front of me (around the corner) was at the window waiting. After a few minutes I realized the car in front of me was using Bun Box's drive as a traditional fast food drive-thru, placing their order at the window and then the Bun Box staff was preparing their food while they waited, at the window. Now there's a car behind me. I can't move. After several more minutes I finally got out of my car, convinced the vehicle behind me to back out, reversed out and went and parked at a nearby building. I walked over to the front window, and picked up my food which was no longer warm.

Massive frustration.

I think if they'd had a small, indoor seating situation and a 3-5 parking spots it may have been a success.

Bummer, food tasted great.

This place appears to be another situation of good chef/bad business person.

I bet a boba tea place moves in.

They did have a small seating area behind that weird brick screen wall thing. It had maybe eight tables. But again, no parking. A tea place might do well there since they're quick to make.

Your going too see a lot of restaurants closing in the next couple of months. Other than stock market the economy is pretty bad. Now locally with the hail storm people need to find money to repair roofs and cars at least deductibles

Your going too see a lot of restaurants closing in the next couple of months. Other than stock market the economy is pretty bad. Now locally with the hail storm people need to find money to repair roofs and cars at least deductibles

For every restaurant that closes, I can list 10 that open with tons more planned.

Yes I have seen a lot of new places open recently in Norman. Restaurants are a tough business so they have always been up and down. Really need to own your own building to avoid that rent increase though.

Your going too see a lot of restaurants closing in the next couple of months. Other than stock market the economy is pretty bad. Now locally with the hail storm people need to find money to repair roofs and cars at least deductibles

Retail sales were up last month, unemployment is still low and inflation is back to normal. I think you're just going off a hunch and not real data.

Flip side of the hail storm, people get a big insurance check, put it in their pocket, dont get their dents fixed.

Retail sales were up last month, unemployment is still low and inflation is back to normal. I think you're just going off a hunch and not real data.

Flip side of the hail storm, people get a big insurance check, put it in their pocket, dont get their dents fixed.


True about not getting their car fixed. I just talked to someone doing that very same thing. As far as recession unemployment is ticking up, savings are at an all time low, credit card debt all time high, people working 2 jobs more than ever. If were not careful we are heading that way. J.P Morgan just raised the percentage to 35 up from 25. It takes 16 months something like that to realize a recession.

As far as new restaurants opening good for them just because they open doesn't make them profitable. Usually they don't close until they are so far in debt they have no choice

They did have a small seating area behind that weird brick screen wall thing. It had maybe eight tables. But again, no parking. A tea place might do well there since they're quick to make.

We always just parked in the TLC lot behind it. I guess I often went on weekends, but it was always completely empty. It never even occured to me that it might not be allowed.

Really gutted to hear it is closing. We went frequently and loved the food.

As far as new restaurants opening good for them just because they open doesn't make them profitable. Usually they don't close until they are so far in debt they have no choiceOklahoma City has a thriving, profitable restaurant industry. Your comments are laughable.

Your going too see a lot of restaurants closing in the next couple of months. Other than stock market the economy is pretty bad. Now locally with the hail storm people need to find money to repair roofs and cars at least deductibles

This has more to do with the Operator realizing the plan was unsuitable and moving on to other things. Her family still runs Lee's Sandwiches down the street, and she is on the board for the Asian District. She runs the Asian Night Market Festival and is busy with other things. The concept was cool, but it didn't work. It is not because of the economy.

It sounds like the Operator, who also owns the building, already has someone lined up to take over the location. It will probably not be Bun Box but a different concept.

According to her latest Insta post, bunbox 2.0 is now open in the pink building across the street

I was told it was going to be a coffee shop that specializes in Asian coffees

According to her latest Insta post, bunbox 2.0 is now open in the pink building across the street

All I saw at the pink building (due south of Bun Box) were some pop-up canopies and astroturf.

I don't understand what is happening here.

All I saw at the pink building (due south of Bun Box) were some pop-up canopies and astroturf.

I don't understand what is happening here.

Went here on Saturday. It sounds like the setup in front of the pink building is a testing ground for them moving to an events-only model. They're currently prepping/testing for the Asian Night Market. Something else is already planned for the current Bun Box building, but wouldn't say what that is yet.

Went here on Saturday. It sounds like the setup in front of the pink building is a testing ground for them moving to an events-only model. They're currently prepping/testing for the Asian Night Market. Something else is already planned for the current Bun Box building, but wouldn't say what that is yet.

https://www.instagram.com/hqcoffeeokc?igsh=MXdsbXg2ZG9weWViYw==
Looks like a coffee shop

According to her latest Insta post, bunbox 2.0 is now open in the pink building across the street

Does anyone know much about the owner of this building? I remember seeing a real estate sign up years ago, and then taken down. And obviously the owner has allowed it to be used for a vehicle of some interesting art, so maybe some sense of community mindedness?

Does anyone know much about the owner of this building? I remember seeing a real estate sign up years ago, and then taken down. And obviously the owner has allowed it to be used for a vehicle of some interesting art, so maybe some sense of community mindedness?

The Family that owns and runs Lee's Sandwiches own a few buildings in this area. This building is one of them. The Daughter who ran Bun Box was calling it the Pink Building and has not released any plans for the building as of yet.

HO COFFEE sign on the front of the building

HO COFFEE sign on the front of the building

It is HQ Coffee (https://www.instagram.com/hqcoffeeokc?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==). I wish the logo was better so that people aren't seeing HO. Sheesh.

It is HQ Coffee (https://www.instagram.com/hqcoffeeokc?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==). I wish the logo was better so that people aren't seeing HO. Sheesh.

No, not Sheesh either, it's up on May Ave, not Classen. :p

It’s HQ coffee. But it does look like HO from a distance

No, not Sheesh either, it's up on May Ave, not Classen. :p

Haha! Got to be better with my words it might end up being a restaurant. Haha!