EDGEWATER — A food truck owner is vowing to rebuild his Edgewater restaurant after it was destroyed in a fire days before it was set to open.
Since 2013, husband and wife John Nguyen and Tanya Nguyen have operated a food truck called Lunchbox, where they serve Asian cuisine inspired by the recipes they loved to eat while growing up.
After a decade in the food truck industry, the Nguyens in 2022 bought the building at 1535 W. Devon Ave., planning to open a permanent location for their business. Lunch Box was a week away from its grand opening when a fire tore through the building Wednesday.
The fire destroyed everything in the restaurant, but the Nguyens said they are already at work rebuilding their business. They are also asking for the community’s help to recover from the fire.
John Nguyen discovered the fire about 9 p.m. Wednesday when he opened the back door and was met with a cloud of black smoke. It’s unclear what started the fire, John Nguyen said. Investigators have deemed the fire an accident, according to ABC7.
The restaurant’s final city inspection was scheduled for Thursday, the day after the fire.
“It was literally the night before the inspection, which was the final hurdle we had to overcome to get our business license,” John Nguyen said. “We’ve put so much time into the restaurant, so to see it diminished within a few hours is very disheartening.”
The fire hasn’t deterred the Nguyens from expanding their business, and they hope to rebuild within about a year. Their family members started a GoFundMe to help. About $2,000 of its $15,000 goal has been raised so far.
The Lunchbox food truck wasn’t impacted by the fire. It’s usually near the University of Chicago, 5801 S. Ellis Ave., during lunchtime weekdays. People can also order Lunchbox catering online.
“We’re staying strong, and we know it will take time for us to rebuild, but we’ll definitely bounce back,” John Nguyen said. “We’re going to show up and not give up.”
When John and Tanya Nguyen launched Lunch Box in 2013, it was one of the first food trucks in the city, they said.
John Nguyen didn’t go to culinary school, but he’s an entrepreneur who’s always been passionate about food and loved cooking since he was a kid. His wife, Tanya Nguyen, works full-time as a teacher in Chicago Public Schools, and the couple is raising three kids who are younger than 5, John Nguyen said.
Lunchbox’s menu offers casual and playful twists on traditional cuisines from Vietnam, Korea, Thailand and the Philippines.
“I saw a business opportunity that hadn’t been tapped in Chicago,” John Nguyen said. “I was so nervous and scared when we first started. To be able to grow our success every year has been a blessing that we deeply appreciate.”
The couple eventually opened a Downtown lunch spot but closed of it favor of opening a spot on the Far North Side in a building they owned, ABC7 reported. John Nguyen went to Loyola University, the channel reported.
The Nguyens have helped other people launch their own food trucks by providing free advice and support with truck maintenance. Since the Nguyens have built solid relationships with others in the food industry, the community’s support “has been overwhelming” in dealing with the fire, John Nguyen said.
“Everyone’s been so supportive,” John Nguyen said. “At first, we didn’t want to do a fundraiser because we didn’t want people to feel obligated to help, but everyone kept reaching out and asking how they could donate. We’re not looking for a handout, but everything helps.”
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