Brooklyn Dumpling Shop Partners with Keith Lee
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop announced a multi-year strategic partnership and investment deal with food influencer Keith Lee. The collaboration is expected to drive expanded reach and new product launches, with the first major event scheduled for March 6.
This marks the first-ever brand investment for Keith Lee, a former MMA fighter who has amassed over 20 million followers with his candid, trust-driven food reviews. His impact, often called the "Keith Lee Effect," has been known to cause an immediate surge in business for the small, family-owned restaurants he typically features. The partnership kicked off with a pop-up event at the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop's Dallas location on March 6, where Lee served guests and the first 100 people in line received free merchandise. The dumpling brand will also be a featured vendor at Lee's inaugural "FamiLee Day" festival in New Orleans on May 16. Brooklyn Dumpling Shop was founded by New York restaurateur Stratis Morfogen in 2021, evolving from his Brooklyn Chop House concept. The fast-casual restaurant modernizes the automat concept, which dates back to the early 1900s, allowing customers to grab their orders from temperature-controlled lockers with minimal human interaction. The menu features dozens of unique dumpling varieties inspired by classic American diner food, such as Philly cheesesteak, lamb gyro, and chicken parmesan. The company currently operates 22 locations across the U.S. and Canada and also sells its products in grocery stores. Lee joins a roster of celebrity investors in the brand, including "Shark Tank" investor Kevin O’Leary, RSE Ventures co-founders Stephen Ross and Matt Higgins, the New York Yankees, and singer Patti LaBelle. The company's CEO and chairman is Jeff Galletly, a former vice president and general manager of Tim Hortons USA.
