Dim and Den Sum to Park It

There is no denying that since crashing onto the Cleveland food scene, Dim and Den Sum has made quite a splash. Launched last spring by Chris Hodgson and Jeremy Esterly (who is no longer with the company), the gastro-van already has acquired over 5,500 Facebook fans and 2,000 Twitter followers, who track the truck's progress and pounce on its addictive Asian-tinged comfort fare. For months, the question for Hodgson was how best to expand his growing brand.

That answer came last week, when a partnership was struck with Alan Glazen and the red-hot team behind ABC Tavern (1872 W. 25th St., 216.861.3857) and the forthcoming Detroit Shoreway restaurant, XYZ Tavern. In the immediate works, says Glazen, is a bricks-and-mortar Dim and Den Sum restaurant on W. 25th Street, in the former Grind nightclub spot just south of Lorain. Also on tap are additional trucks to spread the Dim Sum lovin' to a wider audience.

"We had reached the peek of what we could do working out of a small catering kitchen," explains Hodgson. "We run out of food everyday, our staff isn't big enough. Having a full restaurant and kitchen will allow us to cross-utilize people and products." The kicker for 24-year-old Hodgson, however, is the support that comes from teaming up with industry vets Randy Kelley and Linda Syrek, who run ABC and the West Side Market Café. "That was the main reason I wanted to sign up," Hodgson adds. "I could have gotten money from investors, but having those two on my team is invaluable."

In an attempt to transfer the same level of fun and excitement from the truck to the restaurant, Hodgson says he will create a totally open kitchen concept where chefs double as servers – where there is no distinction between "back of the house" and "front of the house" – as is the case with the rig. As for those rigs: look for more of them boasting longer hours, with breakfast service being added to the fold. Plans call for a springtime opening.