Fuze

[Plutonic Panda]

The Quail Springs location looks to be 99% done outside. Not sure how far along they are on the inside.

[jn1780]

The Quail Springs location looks to be 99% done outside. Not sure how far along they are on the inside.

They finally have their signs up. Must be getting close.

[ljbab728]

I decided to finally try the NW Expressway location a couple of weeks ago for the first time, even though it's located close to me. The food was fine with a huge and varied selection. The prices were also good. I will never go back, however. Maybe it was because it was a Friday evening but, the place was an absolute zoo. The noise was deafening and made it impossible to talk. The dining experience was such that the food and price can't possibly make up for it with me.

[stile99]

I decided to finally try the NW Expressway location a couple of weeks ago for the first time, even though it's located close to me. The food was fine with a huge and varied selection. The prices were also good. I will never go back, however. Maybe it was because it was a Friday evening but, the place was an absolute zoo. The noise was deafening and made it impossible to talk. The dining experience was such that the food and price can't possibly make up for it with me.

OK, first, thank you for the comment about the selection. I avoided the place for quite a long time, because I have a particular Chinese place I like, and so many of the reviews said it was a glorified Chinese buffet. After having been there, I can confidently say those reviewers have not. Either that or they shutter the area with the Italian dishes, shutter the area with the Mexican dishes, and close down the grill so they aren't cooking steaks, pork chops, and hamburgers fresh at some point, and those people went at that time. I also agree with the prices, very very reasonable.

I would suggest giving it another try at another time though. I've only been there for lunch, and the noise at that time really wasn't bad. I'd be hard-pressed to find any place that ISN'T a zoo on a Friday evening, particularly if that place is a buffet. That said, maybe we just disagree on the food. They could have three simultaneous rock concerts, construction going on, seven birthday parties for 10 year olds, and Harrier jump jets taking off/landing just outside the front door for all I care. I'll grab some earplugs and head for that coconut chicken. There's no dining experience than can possibly NOT make up for that alone.

[ljbab728]

OK, first, thank you for the comment about the selection. I avoided the place for quite a long time, because I have a particular Chinese place I like, and so many of the reviews said it was a glorified Chinese buffet. After having been there, I can confidently say those reviewers have not. Either that or they shutter the area with the Italian dishes, shutter the area with the Mexican dishes, and close down the grill so they aren't cooking steaks, pork chops, and hamburgers fresh at some point, and those people went at that time. I also agree with the prices, very very reasonable.

I would suggest giving it another try at another time though. I've only been there for lunch, and the noise at that time really wasn't bad. I'd be hard-pressed to find any place that ISN'T a zoo on a Friday evening, particularly if that place is a buffet. That said, maybe we just disagree on the food. They could have three simultaneous rock concerts, construction going on, seven birthday parties for 10 year olds, and Harrier jump jets taking off/landing just outside the front door for all I care. I'll grab some earplugs and head for that coconut chicken. There's no dining experience than can possibly NOT make up for that alone.

If all you're interested in is the food, I would agree. That normally isn't all I'm looking for when I eat out though. I'm been to many other buffet places on busy nights that were nothing like that.

[corwin1968]

We were just at Freebirds and drove by to check out Fuze and they have a "Now Hiring" sign out so it should be open fairly soon.

[corwin1968]

Fuze is now open. My wife and I ate there for lunch today and it was underwhelming. I suspect it was mostly a matter of people not knowing they are open so it wasn't very busy and a lot of the food had been sitting there awhile. That's never been a problem at the NW Expressway location and I suspect it won't be at the North location once people know it's open.

I was extremely irritated when I stood in front of the "Order a fresh burger...it only takes 3 minutes" sign while the guy behind the counter ignored me even though he would have had to been blind not to see me. When he finally acknowledged my presence I asked for a fresh grilled burger. He pointed at two patties sitting under the heat lamps so I asked again if I could get a fresh one, and then he pointed at the two patties and walked off. I was so irritated that I couldn't even talk to a manager about it. I took one of the patties and low and behold, it wasn't fresh! It wasn't old and soggy but I really wanted him to cook me up a crispy patty.

My wife and I talked about it afterwards and we aren't likely to be going there very often. Part of that is the bad experience we had today and part is that this type of restaurant has lost it's appeal.

[Zorba]

With how the Penn location is off the road a bit, I figured it might be awhile before people found it. Buffets are always better when they are busy.

I really hope the new location doesn't do the music on weekend evenings. It is so loud at the NW Expressway location it is impossible to talk to anyone. My wife has now banned us from going because it annoys her so much. And we don't need the calories.

[jn1780]

The Penn location is in a terrible spot for visibility especially when there are tons of highly visibility restaurants all around it.

[corwin1968]

Does anyone have the scoop on why the Quail Springs location and possibly the NWX locations are closed? I've heard a couple of rumors but I'm guessing someone here knows what is going on.

[Zorba]

Does anyone have the scoop on why the Quail Springs location and possibly the NWX locations are closed? I've heard a couple of rumors but I'm guessing someone here knows what is going on.

How long have they been closed for?

[John1744]

NWX closed? We were just there about two weeks ago for dinner. And I've never been there when it hasn't been super busy.

[corwin1968]

I know the Penn location was closed on Monday with signs on the door and my sister called the NWX location and nobody answered the phone. We've heard rumors about illegal workers, a lawsuit dealing with the fountain and embezzlement and failure to pay vendors and employees. Who knows what the truth is. I wonder if whatever is going on has affected Taste of China. I thought they were all owned by the same people.

[soonermike81]

I thought they were all owned by the same people.

They are owned by the same people. So who knows what's going on.

[stile99]

Definitely something fishy going on. They just posted on their Facebook page a long, run-on sentence (punctuation, people!) about the new managing partners said to close both stores, there's no money.

So yeah, as much as I hate rumors, I'm going to buy into the embezzlement theory. I never drove past when the parking lot wasn't full (during operating hours), and on holidays there were lines literally out the door. That money went somewhere. Assuming this theory is indeed true, it would lead naturally to no money to pay the employees. Don't know anything about the fountain, but based on the few times I was there they could have fished through there and come up with enough money for at least another day.

[Pete]

The N. Penn location is being foreclosed upon to the tune of $3.2 million.

The principal owner is Bing Lu of Taste of China fame (I-240 & S. Western) who was sent to prison in 2000 for harboring illegal Mexican workers and subjecting them to 'sweatshop like' conditions; $100-$200 a week for 60-70 hour weeks. He was also convicted of tax fraud.

[jn1780]

The N. Penn location is being foreclosed upon to the tune of $3.2 million.

The principal owner is Bing Lu of Taste of China fame (I-240 & S. Western) who was sent to prison in 2000 for harboring illegal Mexican workers and subjecting them to 'sweatshop like' conditions; $100-$200 a week for 60-70 hour weeks. He was also convicted of tax fraud.

So most of the rumors are true.

[stile99]

Looks like some interesting spin doctoring is going on. The facebook post (seemingly from a manager) has been removed. It was shown on channel 5 earlier, but is not on the website that I can find. They did do a teaser that they would have more info at 10, including a story about a pre-paid wedding party that was supposed to be there.

EDIT: It is about 3:50 into the most recent broadcast, currently available on KOCO's website.

[Dustin]

The N. Penn location is being foreclosed upon to the tune of $3.2 million.

The principal owner is Bing Lu of Taste of China fame (I-240 & S. Western) who was sent to prison in 2000 for harboring illegal Mexican workers and subjecting them to 'sweatshop like' conditions; $100-$200 a week for 60-70 hour weeks. He was also convicted of tax fraud.

Wwwwoooowwww..... Food was mediocre at best anyways.

[Pete]

Fuze Buffet closes locations; lawsuit claims $12 million missing

[Crowds flocked to Fuze Buffet, the expansive all-you-can-eat restaurants that featured everything from a Mongolian grill to sushi, steak, salad, a sports bar, and a wide variety of desserts.

However both locations closed suddenly late last week and several pending lawsuits tell the tale of mismanagement and possible corruption.

Local owner has criminal history; multiple tax issues

The two Fuze Buffets are managed by Bing Lu and his wife Shu Wu. The pair own 55% of the two restaurants.

Lu also owns and operates Taste of China buffet at 7435 S. Western and has done so since the 1990's.

In 2000, Lu and a business partner were convicted of various crimes including harboring and abetting illegal aliens, who allegedly worked in near sweat-shop style conditions while only receiving $100-$200 per week for 70 to 80 hours of work.

After pleading guilty to associated crimes and tax fraud, Lu was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison.

Prison records show Bing was released from incarceration August 15, 2001.

Throughout subsequent years, Lu continued to incur tax liens from the Oklahoma Tax Commission for various businesses including Taste of China.

In March of this year a tax lien was filed against Bing in conjunction with a local furniture business.

Chinese investors provide millions

Beginning in 2012, Bing and Wu formed three legal entities for the purpose of opening the Fuze Buffet locations and establishing a real estate investment company.

The couple solicited investment funds from two residents of Shenzhen, China. Xian Fu and Haobo Zeng contributed almost $4 million over the last several years in exchange for 45% of the two restaurants and a third each of the real estate venture.

The first Fuze opened at 6506 NW Expressway in May of 2015 and immediately drew big business.

But construction of the second location on NW 142nd just east of Pennsylvania Avenue dragged on with long periods of inaction. In June of 2016 Fu and Zeng filed suit.

Although the new location did ultimately open, Fu and Zeng claimed they were not getting their share of the profits generated by the restaurants.

And they claimed that Lu and Wu, without their knowledge or permission, placed heavy mortgages and other debt on the properties secured by the jointly owned real estate and assets.

The debt and mortgages were of particular concern because Lu and Wu allegedly promised to contribute their own funds to the businesses.

At the same time the plaintiffs said they were not receiving any income from the operations, they claimed the defendants had been taking money themselves while running up massive debt in the form of two multi-million dollar mortgages, mechanic's liens, unpaid taxes and all sorts of other unpaid bills.

In October of 2016 the court appointed a certified public account to serve as Special Administrator to monitor and safeguard assets, while Lu continued to operate the restaurants.

Foreclosure and financial collapse

The Special Administrator was tasked by the court to monitor all business activities, including cash flow and operation of the two restaurants. A periodic report was distributed to the plaintiffs, defendants and the court summarizing financial matters and other key issues.

In response to a series of items in the plaintiff's complaint, the Special Administrator collect several hundred thousand dollars worth of jewelry from Lu and Wu which is being held in a safety deposit box as joint assets of the business entities. Attorneys for Fu and Zeng claim that the defendants bought the jewelry in New York with business funds that were earmarked for furniture for one of the real estate ventures.

Over the next several months the Special Administrator reported that Lu and Wu had not complied with demands for complete historic financial data in order to reconcile the flow of funds in and out of the three entities.

Even with the assistance of the court-appointed CPA, payroll taxes and mortgages went unpaid as existing funds and revenues were insufficient to serve all expenses and debts.

On May 12th of this year, after first working with the Special Administrator to resolve, Frontier State Bank filed for foreclosure on the 142nd Street location citing default on a $3.2 million mortgage.

On June 2nd, the plaintiffs filed to remove Bing Lu as the manager of the two Fuze locations.

Noting that such motion wasn't likely to be heard by the court until August and that the restaurants were effectively insolvent without enough future cash flow to remain in operation, the Special Administrator filed to be discharged from his oversight duty, noting his own fees had gone unpaid.

On July 28th the plaintiffs field a motion for a jury trial.

On August 1st, Quail Creek Bank filed foreclosure paperwork for the NW Expressway location citing default on a $2.6 million mortgage.

On August 3rd, the plaintiffs filed a motion to appoint a receiver and a motion for temporary injunction. That same day, both Fuze restaurants were closed to the public.

Alleged embezzlement

In the still-pending lawsuit that may be headed for trial, the plaintiffs claim that they have invested approximately $4 million in the Fuze restaurants and the real estate venture.

They also claim that $8.2 million in debt has been incurred by Lu and Wu with virtually no remaining assets of value other than the underlying real estate which is now subject to foreclosure actions.

In addition to the two mortgages totaling almost $6 million, OKCTalk confirmed numerous other debts owed to the Oklahoma Tax Commission, contractors and the designer of the restaurants, TAP Architecture.

The plaintiffs claim Lu and Wu have appropriated millions for their own use.

Through their attorneys, Lu and Wu dispute many of the claims.

In one of the last reports by the Special Administrator there was mention of on-going efforts to find buyers for each Fuze location.

As of Saturday night, Taste of China was open and doing a thriving business.

Although both Fuze locations seem to be permanently closed, the case involving all these matters is likely to continue for some time.

Watch the evening news on KFOR-TV tonight to see an on-air broadcast of this story.

[gopokes88]

That's not really surprising

[Pete]

This is very likely to end up with criminal prosecution.

[jn1780]

Money obviously went somewhere. Kind of surprised the Penn location was finished. Taste of China's future seems cloudy if Mr. Lu's assets start getting seized. I'm sure there are buyers for all three locations, but they will be locked up in a legal battle for awhile.

[Pete]

The 2 Fuze properties will likely go into receivership which means they can be sold relatively easily.

I was told they had a firm offer on the NW 142nd location but not sure if that is still going through. And no, I don't know who made the offer.

[Pete]

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