CONTAINER BOX
WORLD NEWS
A popular feature of Taiwan Car Washes are container box water distribution systems, which connect to a network of hoses that supply water around the complex. It's another fascinating way that containers can be recycled for commercial use.
As you can see, there are two water tanks that can service any excess load throughout the day. Also, this owner chose cinder blocks to give it support, which probably means he wants the ability to move it in the future.
Mellow Sushi (醇壽司 梧棲店) is a reasonably priced sushi shop in Taichung, only a five minute drive from Mitsui Outlet Park (台中港). It's so cat friendly that there's a built-in litter box cut out in the pavement.
The Container Box's orange color is the thing that immediately stood out, especially in the sparesly populated area around Taichung Port. Cat lovers would really enjoy eating sushi here.
Located in Nanliaobeike Park (南寮貝殼公園), adjacent to Old Nanliao Fishing Harbor (新竹南寮舊漁港), Hooked On Fish And Chips is a great place for people who want that authentic British style flavor.
It's not uncommon for people to drive miles to get a taste of their food. Plus, it's in a scenic area, so it's wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
When Eslite Spectrum (誠品生活) opened a location at an outlet mall next to the Port of Taichung, they wanted to create an aura to match their surroundings. So naturally, they created a Container Box Bookstore!
Everything from the store's facade, the inner walls, and even the book shelves themselves all contain elements of shipping containers. And while you're browsing the books, take a look out the picture windows and you will see a dozen ships in the harbour filled to the brim with containers.
Eslite has always been a great bookstore, but they just took it to a whole new level. The Container Box Bookstore is our new favorite place to spend an afternoon.
Looking for a great take-out place? Just head over to the Hungry Fried Guy Chicken Shack (炸佬餓炸雞店) on Longhua road... it's in a big, yellow container box, and you can't miss it!!
Probably one of the best uses of a Container Box that we've seen, the Yellow Chicken Shack has only one sole purpose, to make delicious, crispy fried chicken. Some people have remarked that the Shop's Chinese name might be a little inappropriate (sometimes the Chinese to English translation doesn't convey its full meaning).
However, the thing we loved most was the simplicity in their use of a container box. The shop sits on a vacant lot and there's no seating area, which is why we classify it as a shop and not a restaurant. Also, they spent considerable money on their roof, since they need to keep the temperature down, especially in the summer months. It is basically a Container Box Kitchen.
The more we explored Taoyuan, the more we saw businesses like this popping up. It seems to be a hot bed for Container Shops these days, and it's definitely a trend.
Cafe' Champ could have a variety of monikers, such as Fast Lane Caffine or High Adrenaline Java or even Nascar Joe. Any nickname you choose has to be about living on the edge and speed, because that's what this shop is all about.
The moment you walk up to their shop, you can feel an energy eminating from HubAuto, a vehicle customization shop, directly adjacent to Cafe' Champ's front doors. On any given day, you can see them working on cars through the cafe's windows, and we wouldn't be surprised if the aura gave your java a few extra volts of electricity.
As for the shop itself, it is intertwined with several Cargo Boxes, stacked on two levels, and the design is fairly modern. We especially enjoyed the view from the second level and it really had that Container-like feel.
So, if you enjoy Cargo Boxes, Coffee, and Fast Race Cars, then this is the perfect shop for you.
With spotless streets and rows of homes, Jinlong Road is a neigborhood in the truest sense of the word. And in the center of that road is a small cafe' called Peck Brunch (啄Brunch), which really feels like the soul of the community.
While the cafe' attracts a younger aged crowd, it's also a staple of the area, since it's so convenient for local residents to grab a quick breakfast or lunch less than a hundred yards from the front door. Plus, with its unique Container Box atmosphere, the Peck Brunch Cafe' (啄Brunch) is also a great place to relax a couple of hours, and enjoy eating and talking with friends.
The feature about this Container Box Cafe' we appreciated the most were the giant picture windows. Once again, this seems to be the defining characteristic of what makes a Container Shop stand out the most.
The Nothing Bar is really quite something. Enjoy a fresh beer and chat with friends while soaking in gorgeous views of the Tamsui river. The Nothing Bar is located in the middle of Dadaocheng Pier Plaza, along with a dozen other Cargo Box shops, and the authentic river atmosphere makes it one of the more popular hotspots in Taipei.
The Minions are continuing their quest for total domination and now they're targeting the world's cargo boxes too! The shop's name is Bananas For You, and on its shelves are just about every souvenir item the Minions could offer.
The shop is located over on PIER5 (大稻埕碼頭河岸特區) at Dadaocheng Wharf in Taipei, where there is a market square filled with Container Restaurants and a large seating area. People can sit down, eat their favorite foods, and watch the boats float in and out of the harbour. It's a popular dating destination for the 20-something crowd, especially in the evening during a romantic sunset.
Bananas For You also has some basic restaurant fare, such as popcorn, pancakes, and even banana chocolate grilled toast. Sometimes, after a long day at work, it's nice to escape and watch the sun go down while eating on top of a Cargo Box. So, go visit Bananas For You, get a Minion friend, and watch the sunset in the harbor. It's a great way to end the day.
If you want to spend a quiet evening sipping a cup of coffee and chewing on a scone, in a pristine style atmosphere, then the Material Café (素材日常) is the perfect destination. Just a short bike ride from the Huanbei Station (A21 Purple Line), anybody can grab a uBike and be at the Material Cafe' within 10-15 mintues. They even have a uBike rack in front of their shop!
They obviously paid very close attention to detail when they built the cafe', which is a meshing of two container boxes, side by side. The counters and furnishings also have a somewhat minimalistic, almost container-like quality, which adds to the shop's decor. In addition, they have a friendly staff that really make an effort to make customers feel welcome.
We especially liked the large picture windows that illuminate and glow at night. In terms of Container Shops, it is in the upper echelon of our lists. Also, it is located near to Chung Yuan Christian University (中原大學), so during the day there may a college-aged crowd.
Located adjacent to Asia University Hospital in Taichung, Heart Coffee (心咖啡) is a popular Cargo Box Coffee shop that specializes in their own gourmet beans. As you look out the window, there is a picturesque view of a green farm field, lush with vegetation.
It's a quiet place, with only a single table and a few chairs at the bar area. On a sunny day, most people would sit on the deck outside, relaxing in the fresh, clean farm atmosphere. It really is a peaceful place, especially for people who may be visiting the nearby hospital, who need to contemplate and relax.
As for the Cargo Box, we really liked the two full sized windows facing the farm, and the small, thin window facing the parking area. The Cargo design is simplistic, but they really utilize the limited space and decorate it with original artwork from local artists.
The customer service was wonderful and we really enjoyed the experience.
Just in time for the Winter Holidays, the Hama Boutique (亞瑪精品) placed a temporary Container Clothing Store in the middle of the Xinyi Shopping District. Less than 100 feet away from the largest Christmas tree in Xinyi, the lights from inside dazzle at night and are a nice complement to the tree's hourly light show.
If a shop is going to place a temporary container in the middle of the busiest shopping district, they have to make sure it is aesthetically pleasing to its surroundings. Hama Boutique (亞瑪精品) was able to succeed in doing that beautifully. It actually adds to the light display that many people love to enjoy during the holidays.
There's a trend to use Container Boxes in Self-Car Washes in Taichung, and that makes sense considering they already have lockable doors, are built to withstand the outdoor elements, and are easy to move.
Above the containers are medium-sized water tanks that feed into the box that then lead into a network of tubes which are distributed throughout the car wash. Once again, the base of the container is supported by cinder blocks, and that is a clear sign of non-permenant placement.
Ming Lun Pancakes (明倫蛋餅-大坑店) as been an institution in the Taichung Area since 1978, and one of the things that makes them stand out is their unique Container Box Shop. With a double decker container, it gives them ample space for equipment and supplies, in addition to serving as a billboard which can be seen a mile away.
In terms of their food, it is absolutely delicious and it's enjoyable watching them make it in front of you. We really recommend you visiting and trying the Ming Lun Pancakes (明倫蛋餅-大坑店) for yourselves!
Walking down the street one day, we came upon an oasis, a beautiful botanic paradise, with some very unusual and exotic plants. In the middle of that garden was an exquisite Container Box Cafe' (是咩), one that felt so welcoming, it almost felt like home.
After sitting down on a bar stool facing the window wall, we took a look around the cafe', and it had an especially cosy aura, so relaxed and inviting. We ordered a warm tea with goat milk, one of the shop's specialties, and waited for our order. Let me tell you, after taking a sip of the goat milk tea, we were utterly amazed at how delicious it was.
So, if you are looking for a great place to hang out with friends for an afternoon, or just want to sit someplace to work on a laptop or browse your phone, the Container Box Cafe' (是咩) is the coffee shop for you. The drinks and freshly baked bread are fantastic, and the staff is very friendly.
Note: They will be moving to a better location soon, so we will update the address accordingly.
The Danhai Cargo Box Library Reading Room is a unique treasure that only comes by once in a blue moon. It is the epitome of what a reading room should be, just a small windowed space with natural sunlight streaming through.
Situated at Hongshulin Station, the terminus for the Danhai Light Rail Transit system, it is located on the left side when exiting the station. Enjoy the experience of reading a good book inside a Cargo Box, and no cell phones please.
Across the street from Nanliao Harbor in Hsinchu, Hi Hai (手作輕食) Tea is a good place to spend a few hours relaxing with your friends. Directly in the center of Fenglihuodong Park (風力活動公園), Hi Hai Tea is located in a Cargo Box Strip, which has a series of shops built inside cargo containers.
It really is a special place to sit down and relax on a sunny afternoon. In addition to tea, Hai Hai has an assortment of light food on the menu, of which our particular favorite is the American style hot dog.
So, if you're looking for an eccentric place to bring a date, or just a few a friends, go to the Nanliao Harbor to look at boats, and afterwards, go visit the Hi Hai Tea and Cafe'. It's one of our favorite Cargo Box Shops to visit.
On the outskirts of Taichung, there is a mini-container that has an awesome smoothie and juice bar. It's official name is 彼可斯Bicuss冰菓室, and they have an apparent love of felines, which is showingly expressed in the signage. Could Bicuss be their cat's name?
The shop's color scheme is very cute and zany, which matches the menu of smoothies and desserts perfectly. We also like the roof, eventhough they only use steel stud and corrugated sheet metal. But, they did a good job with the basic materials that were used.
All in all, the feel and design of the shop is pretty snazzy.
If you are looking for the world's most relaxed place to drink those tea leaves, then Cafe Tea on DaDaoCheng Wharf is the answer to your prayers.
In some ways, Open Your Door (出櫃) is a shop within a shop, because the Container Box is situated inside a large commercial space. Even more surprising, it's in an upscale area where rental prices are higher, so they are bucking about every retail norm in real estate.
As for their drinks, they may have the best milk tea in Nantun District (南屯區). Their service is exceptionally friendly and the owner made a special effort to help, even for foreigners who speak broken Chinese.
As for the container, it was refreshing to see how it was incorporated into a business so effortlessly unspoiled. It is the perfect example of an authentic Container Box Shop.
The most eye-alluring part of this current container are the I-beam and end plate supports. Set up as a dessert shop in Hsinchu, they really did an excellent job of stabilizing everything on a crooked street.
The only way this could be done was by putting strong supports to level the shop. Whenever there is an odd corner, an overhang next to a river, or a crooked street, shops always seem to gravitate towards containers as a quick solution. Which is why, time and time again, the greatest challenge always seems to be finding ways to level the box properly.
Also, if you're looking for some good dessert in Hsinchu, this is the place to go.
