Kro's Nest

Kro's Nest is a Beijing pizza-restaurant chain operated by Beijing Kro's Nest F&B Management. The brand is also known in Chinese as 乌巢 or 烏巢, with the pinyin Wū Cháo. Its public profile is associated primarily with American-style pizzas and a reliable Western-oriented menu aimed at customers seeking familiar international casual dining in Beijing. The chain was established in 2005 by Olav Kristoffer “Kro” Bauer, an American entrepreneur, and his Chinese business partner Yuan Jie. Bauer had studied at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and was reported to be 21 years old when the first restaurant opened. The founders had worked together on earlier ventures, and their partnership provided the cross-cultural and commercial basis for launching a Western-style restaurant business in the Beijing market. The first Kro’s Nest location opened in the area around Peking University, a district with a large student, expatriate, and internationally oriented customer population. Kro’s Nest developed a reputation for American-style pies rather than positioning itself solely as a traditional Italian pizzeria. Bloomberg Businessweek described the chain as being known for American-style pizzas, while travel writer Susie Gordon characterized its Western menu as dependable and credited that consistency with helping the restaurant gain popularity. These descriptions suggest a value proposition built around accessible Western food, recognizable pizza formats, and dependable execution rather than fine dining or strict culinary authenticity. The company’s early growth was accompanied by disputes between its founders. In 2006, Bauer and Yuan Jie disagreed over a recipe, although the two later reconciled; the episode received coverage from China Central Television. A more serious conflict later emerged over ownership of the restaurant chain. In 2010, a physical altercation between the two partners resulted in Yuan Jie’s arrest. Following the dispute, the chain’s management structure changed. Three locations associated with Yuan Jie were renamed Tube Station Pizza. Those sites were identified as being in Haidian District, around Beijing’s North Third Ring Road, and near the Beijing Workers’ Stadium. The available reference material does not establish Kro’s Nest’s current ownership, number of operating locations, financial performance, national expansion, or present-day operating status. It does, however, document the brand as a notable Beijing restaurant chain during the 2000s and early 2010s. As of 2013, Marty Handley was identified as the chain’s vice president. Kro’s Nest is therefore best understood as a locally focused Chinese food-service brand whose identity was shaped by American-style pizza, a Western casual-dining menu, and the complicated evolution of its founding partnership.

Kro’s Nest emerged in Beijing in 2005 during a period when Western casual dining and international restaurant concepts were becoming increasingly visible in the city. The chain was founded by Olav Kristoffer “Kro” Bauer, an American who had studied at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and Yuan Jie, his Chinese business partner. The two had collaborated on earlier business ventures before establishing the restaurant brand. Bauer was reportedly 21 when the first Kro’s Nest restaurant opened. The inaugural location was situated near Peking University. That setting gave the brand access to a mixed customer base that included university students, international residents, expatriates, and Beijing diners interested in Western food. Kro’s Nest built its identity around pizza, particularly American-style pies, while also offering a wider Western menu. Contemporary descriptions emphasized the dependability and accessibility of the food rather than an exclusive or highly formal dining experience. This helped distinguish the chain as a practical Western restaurant option in Beijing’s expanding casual-dining market. The founders’ relationship became an important part of the brand’s documented history. In 2006, Bauer and Yuan Jie had a disagreement concerning a recipe. Although they later reconciled, the dispute was notable enough to receive coverage from China Central Television. The episode illustrated the operational and ownership tensions that could arise within a young, closely held restaurant venture. A deeper conflict later developed concerning ownership of Kro’s Nest. In 2010, Bauer and Yuan Jie were involved in a physical altercation, and Yuan Jie was arrested. The incident was followed by changes to the chain’s management. Three restaurants associated with Yuan Jie subsequently ceased using the Kro’s Nest name and were renamed Tube Station Pizza. The affected sites were identified as locations in Haidian District, the North Third Ring Road area, and the vicinity of the Beijing Workers’ Stadium. This separation marked a significant organizational and brand change, dividing outlets that had previously been connected to the Kro’s Nest network. Despite the internal conflict, Kro’s Nest retained public recognition as a Beijing pizza chain. Bloomberg Businessweek described it as known for American-style pizzas, and Moon Spotlight Beijing author Susie Gordon wrote favorably about its reliable Western menu and popularity. In 2011, The Beijinger reported that Kro’s Nest defeated Gung Ho! in its Pizza Cup, providing evidence of the brand’s visibility within Beijing’s competitive pizza scene. By 2013, Marty Handley was identified as the chain’s vice president. The available reference material ends without establishing the chain’s current location count, ownership, financial position, expansion beyond Beijing, or operating status. Accordingly, Kro’s Nest’s best-documented historical profile is that of a Beijing-based Western restaurant brand founded through an American-Chinese partnership, recognized for American-style pizza, and significantly reshaped by a founder dispute and subsequent outlet renaming.

• 2013

  Marty Handley identified as vice president

  [1]Kro's Nesten.wikipedia.org

  Contemporary reference material identifies Marty Handley as a vice president of the chain.

• 2011

  Pizza Cup victory

  [2]The Beijingerthebeijinger.com

  The Beijinger reports that Kro’s Nest defeats Gung Ho! in the publication’s Pizza Cup.

• 2010

  Ownership dispute changes the chain

  [1]Kro's Nesten.wikipedia.org

  A physical altercation between the founders results in Yuan Jie’s arrest, followed by changes to Kro’s Nest’s management.

• 2010

  Three locations become Tube Station Pizza

  [1]Kro's Nesten.wikipedia.org

  Three Yuan Jie-associated locations are renamed Tube Station Pizza after the ownership conflict.

• 2006

  Recipe dispute between the founders

  [1]Kro's Nesten.wikipedia.org

  The founding partners disagree over a recipe, later reconcile, and become the subject of China Central Television coverage.

• 2005

  Kro’s Nest is established

  [1]Kro's Nesten.wikipedia.org

  Olav Kristoffer “Kro” Bauer and Yuan Jie establish the restaurant chain, with the first location opening near Peking University in Beijing.

Accessible Beijing casual dining centered on American-style pizza and a dependable Western menu.

• Pizza · 2005

  American-style pizzas

  Kro’s Nest’s central offering was American-style pizza, commonly described as the format for which the chain was known. The pizzas formed the core of its identity as a Beijing Western casual-dining brand and helped it compete in the city’s developing pizza market.

• Western casual dining · 2005

  Western menu

  Beyond pizza, Kro’s Nest served a broader Western menu. Contemporary travel and business descriptions emphasized the menu’s reliability and accessibility, suggesting that the brand appealed to customers looking for familiar Western dishes in a casual restaurant setting.

• 2010

  Ownership conflict and physical altercation

  A dispute over ownership of the chain escalated into a physical altercation involving the two founders and resulted in Yuan Jie’s arrest. The event was followed by management changes.

  Source

• 2006

  Recipe dispute between the founding partners

  Bauer and Yuan Jie disagreed over a recipe. They later reconciled, but the dispute was covered by China Central Television.

  Source

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• 2010

  Management structure is altered after the ownership disputeStrategy

  Background

  The founding partners became involved in an ownership conflict that culminated in a physical altercation and Yuan Jie’s arrest.

  Action taken

  Kro’s Nest changed its management arrangements after the incident.

  Aftermath

  The dispute also led to the separation and renaming of three Yuan Jie-associated locations as Tube Station Pizza.

  Source

• 2010

  Three restaurants are renamed Tube Station PizzaStrategy

  Background

  Three locations connected with Yuan Jie were affected by the ownership and management conflict.

  Action taken

  The locations in Haidian District, the North Third Ring Road area, and near the Beijing Workers’ Stadium adopted the Tube Station Pizza name.

  Aftermath

  The renaming divided the previously connected restaurant network and reduced the number of locations operating under the Kro’s Nest identity.

  Source

1. 1Kro's Nesten.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Beijingerthebeijinger.com