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Kristine Suh of Dosirak Outpost. | Dosirak Outpost Facebook page <\/p>\n
Dosirak Outpost always had the \u201cconvenience\u201d part of the equation down pat, garnering a solid reputation as a pop-up brand in and around Durham, North Carolina, a city of 305,000 people and home to world-famous Duke University.<\/p>\n
Now, the Korean-inspired brand has added the \u201cstore\u201d part to the \u201cconvenience,\u201d occurring when in April it secured brick-and-mortar space at a local business.<\/p>\n
The 300-square-foot back-kitchen<\/a> spot is located at Remy\u2019s Lounge in Durham and operated by entrepreneurs Kristine Suh and partner Andrew Mehring. Their plan had been in the works to establish a brick-and-mortar presence\u2014seen as a vehicle to become a destination option in Durham, located a stone\u2019s throw from bustling Raleigh.<\/p>\n Currently on a six-month lease, Suh and Mehring said they could either extend the lease or identify a larger space to support its growing product lines, which start with a host of popular Korean-inspired pre-packaged snacks and entrees.<\/p>\n Cooking a passion<\/p>\n Suh said the partners want to make its new footprint, formerly occupied by a bakery operation within the confines of Remy\u2019s Lounge, as a \u201cwelcome destination spot for people across the Korean culture that live or visit Durham, and be a mechanism to better help Asian Americans in the area feel seen and connected,\u201d she said. (Remy\u2019s Lounge is a bar known for its South Texas tacos.)<\/p>\n \u201cAt one of (our) pop-up locations, I made foods usually served on Lunar New Year,\u201d Suh said. \u201cI had one person tell me that it was exactly what her grandmother\u2019s rice cake soup tastes like. That just brought me back to (her grandmother). I love cooking and love food\u2014and love exploring cultures and being able to bring that into Durham to show people Korean culture (and) Korean cuisine.\u201d<\/p>\n The Korean-inspired c-store model is certain to resonate with a local population comprised not only of local Durhamites but Raleigh residents\u2014a city that\u2019s growing by leaps and bounds. Duke University students come from around the United States and from around the globe. Many are always seeking food and beverages that stretch their palettes.<\/p>\n West Coast transplant<\/p>\n Suh, who grew up in Los Angeles, said that as Asian cuisine and Korean culture become more integrated into the U.S., the time is ripe to offer a brand that\u2019s more than a carryout model but one that melds in convenience store aspects. \u201cI\u2019ve learned a lot and I want other people to as well,\u201d Suh said.<\/p>\n Currently, Dosirak Outpost is stocked with Korean snacks, noodles, Asian stationery, beverages, kimchi (supplied by a local vendor), gochujang and much more.<\/p>\n Suh eventually is seeking to offer grab-and-go items that would include triangle kimbap. The holdup? Dosirak Outpost is waiting to receive a city permit to serve fresh food. Presently, the food<\/a> offered is pre-packaged.<\/p>\n Grab-and-go on the agenda<\/p>\n Suh plans to establish a grab-and-go area of the store to be stocked with snacks such as crunchy, honey-glazed peanut chunks, turtle chips and a cup ramyeon wall with accessible hot water for customers to cook noodles. She also wants to stock specific Korean ingredients and sell cookbooks.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s honestly a lot of fun to see people enjoy the food I grew up with,\u201d Suh said. \u201cI want to be able to share my love of cooking Korean cuisine\u2014something that other people wouldn\u2019t have tried independently because it is scary to try another culture\u2019s food at home.\u201d<\/p>\n