RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. [September 29, 2026] – Triangle shoppers and diners looking for their next go-to spots for good food and unique retail will find a variety of new options at Boxyard RTP, the experiential dining and retail destination located within Hub RTP, Research Triangle Park’s (RTP’s) vibrant downtown destination. Boxyard RTP will celebrate the new vendors during New Biz in the Box, a joint grand opening event on Friday, Oct. 2, from 4-7 p.m.`
The latest dining and retail offerings reflect the range of entrepreneurs and businesses finding a home at Boxyard, adding four distinct experiences to the mix:
- The Pudding Man: A locally owned dessert destination specializing in pudding made with quality ingredients and bold flavors. Co-owners Fabian Hall and Tacoya Hall founded the fast-casual business with a shared vision of bringing people together through exceptional desserts. Every individually handcrafted dessert and seasonal flavor is prepared with care and brings comfort, nostalgia and a modern twist to a timeless favorite.
- KatSushi: The latest venture from Top Chef alum Katsuji Tanabe and acclaimed Raleigh restaurateur Anthony Rapillo, bringing Japanese-inspired flavors and a modern sushi experience to RTP. Rooted in Tanabe’s Japanese lineage, passion for Japanese cuisine and pursuit of the perfect hand roll, KatSushi Bar offers an inventive menu of hand rolls and rice bowls, alongside a selection of Japanese-inspired drinks. Signature items include the Spicy Tuna Handroll with sesame truffle mayo and rice bowls featuring spicy tuna, salmon poke, mochiko chicken and more.
- unEarth Body Care: A nature-focused, aromatherapy-based body care and fragrance brand offering handmade, vegan body oils, scrubs, butters, fragrance mists and soaps. Owner LaDonna Standback started unEarth Body Care with a mission to create a haven to encourage self-care and use body care and aromatherapy to help center and focus the mind. Through her space at Boxyard RTP, Standback hopes to inspire customers to explore self-care through hands-on engagement and community connection. UnEarth Body Care is part of Boxyard RTP’s latest PopBox cohort and will be the program’s final resident.
- Pen Pals: A community-focused stationery shop that combines thoughtfully curated stationery, gifts and creative workshops in a welcoming space. Designed to inspire creativity and connection, Pen Pals offers premium stationery, art supplies and hands-on experiences that bring people together through journaling, crafting and self-expression. Stop in for last-minute gifts, greeting cards, Sanrio, Pokémon and products created by artists from around the world.
The new lineup of vendors underscores Boxyard’s role in bringing together Park employees, visitors and residents, while providing a platform for local entrepreneurs.
“Boxyard RTP is a place where entrepreneurs and creatives can bring new ideas to life, and that spirit continues to shape what makes it special. Seeing vendors establish themselves and succeed can inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to launch and grow their businesses at Boxyard, too,” said Carolyn Coia, vice president of real estate at the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina. “There’s always something new to discover, and these new retailers bring fresh energy and personality that give the community even more reasons to gather, connect and explore.”
During the Oct. 2 grand opening, attendees can explore the newest concepts and take part in interactive activities, including a scavenger hunt, yard games, a memory wall, live caricature drawings, a penny press machine and selfie spots.
The event kicks off at 4 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at The Pudding Man, where the first 25 customers will receive a free small pudding. The celebration will continue with Boxyard’s biweekly open jam session, LOJO: Log Off, Jam On, at 5:30 p.m. Throughout the event, attendees can enjoy the following offerings:
- Free pudding samples to the first 25 customers from The Pudding Man
- Complimentary ice cream and bakery samples by Baekho
- A self-care station with unEarth Body Care, where guests can experience products and receive a coupon
- 15 percent off glasses of wine at RTP Uncorked
The four vendors join Boxyard RTP’s existing lineup of dining, retail and entertainment concepts, expanding the destination’s offerings for RTP employees, residents and visitors.
To learn more about the vendors and Boxyard RTP, visit https://boxyard.rtp.org.
About Boxyard RTP
Discover a unique retail, food and entertainment venue at Boxyard RTP, located on the western portion of Hub RTP, Research Triangle Park (RTP) ‘s 100-acre vibrant downtown district. First opened in 2021, Boxyard RTP offers a dynamic indoor-outdoor gathering space, dog park and performance stage comprised of 40 upcycled shipping containers where visitors can unwind and enjoy an experience unique to the Triangle region. Committed to social entrepreneurship, Boxyard RTP collaborates with a mix of hyper-local vendors to feature diverse offerings. Voted a three-time Durham Magazine Best of Durham winner for Large Venue for Live Music, Boxyard RTP enhances the cultural landscape of RTP through a robust event program that includes live music, comedy nights and more, accessible to people both within and beyond RTP. Owned and managed by Research Triangle Foundation, a 501(c)(4) non-profit, the Foundation’s mission is to facilitate collaboration among the Research Triangle universities, promote cooperation between Research Triangle universities and industry and create a positive economic impact for residents of North Carolina. To learn more about Boxyard RTP and upcoming events, visit https://boxyard.rtp.org.
About Hub RTP
Hub RTP, Research Triangle Park (RTP)’s new vibrant downtown destination, is a walkable urban district designed to bring people together to work, stay, shop and dine in RTP for the first time in its history. Hub RTP’s current phase will feature more than 1.5 million square feet of office and life sciences lab space, 50,000 square feet of experiential retail, 1,200 multifamily residential units, and 279 hotel rooms. An impressive 16 acres of parks and greenspace includes the award-winning and eco-friendly Burdens Creek, which connects more than 20 miles of trails in RTP. Centrally located in the heart of the Research Triangle region, the 100-acre district includes Frontier RTP, an innovative startup community, Boxyard RTP, a unique food, retail and entertainment destination, and Horseshoe at Hub RTP, a Class A office-over-retail development. To learn more about Hub RTP, community programming and current leasing opportunities, visit https://hub.rtp.org.
Media Contact
Ana Velez
Marketing Manager
Boxyard RTP
velez@rtp.org