Chicago Lunchbox

A Humboldt Park Restaurant Needs Help Recovering From a Fire | Eater Chicago

"A decade-old Chicago food truck I’ve followed, Lunchbox was founded in 2013 by John and Tanya Nguyen and earned a following with spicy “fire” rangoons, bahn mi stuffed with Filipino longanisa, and pork tacos slathered in savory Vietnamese sauce, navigating stringent regulations as one of the city’s early trucks. They had spent a year working toward opening a permanent location when a fire on Wednesday, April 17 destroyed the space at 1535 W. Devon Avenue in Edgewater after John Nguyen discovered a cloud of black smoke while checking the building; firefighters extinguished the flames, the damage was significant, no injuries were reported, and the blaze was ruled accidental. Despite the setback, the Nguyens vow to spend the next year rebuilding, are seeking $15,000 via GoFundMe to help them start over, and the food truck remains operational for weekday lunches, usually near the University of Chicago at 5801 S. Ellis Avenue — “We shall rise from these ashes,” they write on Instagram." - Naomi Waxman