Hutonger Pie to Temporarily Shut Down Jan 11; Will Return With New Location in March
Some major changes are in store for popular bakery Hutonger Pie. Owner Carol Qin announced via WeChat yesterday (Jan 7) that the Zhangzizhong Lu pie shop will shut down on Jan 11 because their lease will soon be up.
Qin went on to tell the Beijinger that she and her staff plan to reopen in March, at a location still to be determined, adding that they had only intended to stay at the location for half a year. Attempting to stay beyond that contract would make little sense, given the steady stream of sudden closures that have rocked such street-level businesses throughout 2017. Qin insisted on giving these developments a positive spin, saying that this will be a chance to give her staff an extended Chinese New Year, allow her to tweak the concept and find a more stable location, and, perhaps best of all, afford her baker and business partner Chen Jie the time to take some courses that will help her hone her skills all the more.
This is by no means the only major change that the business has undergone as of late. Back in August, the bakery reopened as Hutonger Pie, a new incarnation of the Rager Pie shop founded by Wilson Hailey a few years prior. Qin and her current staff had worked and studied under Hailey during his time as owner, and when he and his family decided to move back to America, she opted to take it over the store and rebrand it. Qin has enjoyed the experience so much that, despite taking this time off to recalibrate, she wants to let the shop's enthused following know that she can't want to serve them more sweet and meaty treats after CNY. "This is not an end, but a beginning."
Hutonger Pie's last day of operation at Zhangzizhong Lu will be Jan 11. Until then the shop will sell its pies for 15 percent off to help clear out stock. For more information, find them on WeChat at 13693171850.
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Photos courtesy of Hutonger Pie
