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Wow Bao in Lakeview Takes Its 'Buns On The Run' Slogan Literally

By Janet Rausa Fuller | June 12, 2015 6:11am
 Wow Bao manager Julie Collier (l.) and a customer at the end of the restaurant's first running club.
Wow Bao manager Julie Collier (l.) and a customer at the end of the restaurant's first running club.
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Wow Bao/Facebook

LAKEVIEW — What do Asian steamed buns and marathon training have in common?

Nothing, really. But that wasn't a barrier to the Wow Bao Running Club, which meets at 6:30 p.m. Mondays at the chain's Lakeview location, 2806 N. Clark St.

"Club" might be a stretch right now. Only one person showed up to Monday's inaugural run, and she wasn't a local. She was visiting from Las Vegas, said Wow Bao manager Julie Collier, who leads the club.

Taking random customers on lakefront runs may not be in Collier's job description, but it works just fine for her. The 29-year-old is training for her second Chicago Marathon.

Her boss, Lettuce Entertain You managing partner Geoff Alexander, was the one who suggested she start the running club, knowing she was an avid runner and had just moved to the neighborhood.

"I know she has to go through training, and our Lakeview store is really a community area and it's two blocks from the lakefront. All the stars aligned," Alexander said.

And when your boss asks you to do something, you can't really argue, right?

"He doesn't run, but I hope to get him running, too," Collier said.

"I only run if someone's chasing me," Alexander said.

The Lakeview location is the starting and finishing point for the Monday evening run, which takes place conveniently after Collier finishes work. (She also manages the Wow Bao at State and Lake streets.)

For this week's first run, Collier and her out-of-town companion ran only about two miles due to less-than-ideal weather.

"Even though it poured down rain, it was hilarious and fun," she said.

The club is open to runners of all levels. There is no need to call ahead. There are perks to participating: a free post-run ginger ale and a 20 percent discount on food.

The restaurant is promoting the running club on its social media pages under the same hashtag used for its Bao-Mobile food truck — #bunsontherun.


Wow Bao in Lakeview is offering steamed buns at a discount for customers who join its weekly running club. [Wow Bao/Facebook]

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