Leon’s First Thai Fast Food Experiment Appears to Have Failed

The “healthy” fast food company Leon closed its new Thai-inspired pop-up brand Tuk Shop on Sunday. The new venture — a partnership between Leon and Aylmer Aaharn, the Thai food group co-owned by Australian chef (and Thai specialist) David Thompson — was first reported in April of this year; the pop-up opened in an existing Leon retail unit in May.

Big Hospitality reports that the space used for the pop-up, on Shaftesbury Avenue, will return to its original use as a Leon. Despite the sudden closure, a tweet posted by the parent company says that Tuk Shop will open later in the year, with a new menu, in a new location.

“Our Thai Fast Food pop up, Tuk Shop, will be popping down for a bit and will close its doors on Sunday. It’ll pop up again later in the year with a brand new menu and in a new Central London location,” it said.

Eater contacted Leon and Tuk Shop’s representatives but did not immediately receive comment regarding the status of the brand. Leon later said in a statement:

Our Shaftesbury Avenue location has stopped trading as Tuk Shop and is re-opening as a LEON tomorrow.

Tuk Shop, our Thai Fast Food pop up, will be popping up again soon at another central London location. Our plan has always been, and still is, to roll out our Tuk Shop concept once it’s ready. Keeping it as a pop up for now will allow us to be dynamic as the menu evolves and we learn what works and what doesn’t. We’ll let you know when we announce our next location.