BCK in the Heights Shutters; Ramen is Moving in

BCK, the independent Heights restaurant endeavor from the owners of Bosscat Kitchen, is serving its last festive comfort food on April 30. Shokku Ramen based out of Las Vegas is taking over the space at 933 Studewood. The ramen restaurant’s bragging rights include the Shinigami Challenge — consume a bowl of spicy ramen measuring over 4 million Scoville units of heat and conquerors not only get the ramen for free, but a photo on the Wall of Warriors.

BCK is a casualty of the COVID-19-driven downturn in restaurant revenues, and could not negotiate more flexible terms with its landlord. According to a press release, to responsibly bridge the gap, the owners sought a replacement to take over the lease. Ron Hankamer of Transworld Business Advisors assisted with the transaction.

Pasghettios at BCK Kitchen
The Pasghettios at BCK was a grownup take on a familiar childhood favorite at BCK Kitchen & Cocktail Adventures. Photo by Kirsten Gilliam.

“We could not come to terms with the landlord post-COVID,” co-owner John Reed said. “We had two years left on our lease and wanted to renegotiate to a 10-year lease, and we could not find a common ground, so we found a new tenant to take our place.”

BCK initially drew inspiration from childhood nostalgia, serving dishes such as Sticky Apple Buns with a sprinkling of Apple Jacks cereal and a custom take on SpaghettiOs before switching to a menu more focused on burgers, cocktails and brunch. When co-owner Leslie Nguyen started a new business, Miss Mini Donuts, even offering those cute breakfast items wasn’t enough to save the restaurant.

Photo of John Reed sitting in a booth surrounded by the BCK team.
Co-owner John Reed and his team at BCK: Kitchen and Cocktail Adventures. Photo by Kirsten Gilliam.

According to the press release, no BCK staff member will go without a job because of the closing. Instead, they are being placed at Bosscat Kitchen’s Houston location at 4310 Westheimer. The company is also teasing a new concept for Houston, which will debut later this year.

“BCK was a labor of love,” Reed said via the press release. “We made mistakes, but we learned a lot along the way. We are grateful to our landlord and to the local community for all of the support over the last three years. We’ll see you again soon.”

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