Submitted by jmrapp on Thu, 07/24/2014 - 15:10
Back when Fangjia Hutong was made up of just a few trusty bottle bars, it was a far off dream that the likes of butter and grease and cheese would take over. Then came the spotty brown paper bags filled with pulled pork sandwiches from Was Park. Then, the grilled cheese gods took pity on our drunken souls and gave us The Corner Melt. Now, The Box owner Paca Lee is taking over the former El Nido Bistro and turning it into a pizza bar.
What will it be next? A chili dog cart? A pancake and waffle house? (One can only hope.)
Those who frequent the hutong were probably looking at that El Nido venue (not to be confused with El Nido's neighboring bottle bar) and thinking "enough renovation already!" but this news surely will stir up some renewed excitement about the space's potential. Lee expects all the details will be finalized – including the name of the joint and the style of the pizza – within the next few weeks.
The Box itself isn't going anywhere, so if you're looking for poutine and sandwiches in the meantime, find them at Jiugulou Dajie. This Sunday, they'll be celebrating their fourth birthday. For more details, keep an eye on our Events section.