Christopher Smith | Bunshine Signature Stuffed Buns
Owner of Bunshine Signature Stuffed Buns
Christopher Smith is the founder of Bunshine Signature Stuffed Buns located in Nashville, TN. At Bunshine, their mission is to put “a little Bunshine” into the world by providing a quality product, creating an exceptional experience, and giving back to the community.
Looking for More Than a Paycheck
When Christopher Smith moved back home to Nashville in the middle of the pandemic, life looked pretty typical on paper. He had just started a new job and settled into a familiar place. But something felt off. “I was really looking for a change of pace,” he says. The job was fine—but it wasn’t fulfilling. He started thinking about what kind of life he really wanted: one where he had the freedom to build something that would last, not just for now, but long-term.
From Craving to Concept
That spark led him to the kitchen, where one question guided him: What would be the ultimate comfort food? The answer? Stuffed buns. “If you’ve ever had an empanada, they’re similar—but the dough is lighter and fluffier, like a donut.” He leaned into his natural skill—cooking—and turned it into something new: Bunshine Signature Stuffed Buns. The recipe didn’t come from his family history, but he’s determined that it’ll become part of it.
Building Something That Lasts
In Christopher's view, embracing a growth mindset is crucial. It may sound cliché, but he believes in the importance of learning from failure. There are moments when setbacks feel overwhelming, however, each challenge serves as a lesson that propels him forward. Discipline and consistency are key; no one will do the work for him. He emphasizes the need to stay committed to his vision and trust those around him who support his journey. Christopher wants to build a legacy that goes beyond just nourishing people; he aspires to create something that will endure for future generations.
“I want to be able to build something that was bigger than me.”
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I'm Christopher Smith. I'm the founder of Bunshine Signature Stuffed Buns. Stuffed Buns are light, fluffy pockets of fried dough filled with a variety of delicious ingredients. So, if you've ever had an empanada, they're very similar to those, but the dough is a lot lighter and fluffier, like donut dough.
I got started as an entrepreneur around the time that I moved back home to Nashville. I just got a new job, moved back home, and it was in the middle of the pandemic and I was really looking for a change of pace. I had started a new career, but knew that I kind of wanted to continue to move in the direction of doing something that allowed me the freedom to build the life I wanted to build, to build generational wealth.
And I knew that one, one way I wanted to do that was through entrepreneurship. And so I started thinking about what gifts I had that God had blessed me with. And one of those gifts was cooking. Eventually, I thought, what would be the ultimate comfort food? And that's how I came up with the idea for the stuffed bun.
But what inspired me most about renewed entrepreneurship is the idea of legacy — one, to build a legacy for my family, and build generational wealth. Meaning that I want to be able to build something that was bigger than me. That, you know, wasn't just about, you know, feeding people, which is something that I really enjoy doing — nourishing people.
But that could live on beyond me. And so when I think about the stuffed bun recipe, a lot of people often ask, like, was it a family recipe? And I say, no, but it will be because it's something that I wanted, I want to continue on beyond me. I definitely think you have to have a growth mindset. I think that sounds kind of cliché, but what I mean when I say that is failure can very much feel like the end of the road at times.
But in business, you have to be willing to fail and get back up several times. That's something that I've had to grapple with a lot, like, "Man, this really didn't work the way I thought it would," but I'm still here and I'm going to keep going. And eventually it's going to work out. And with that comes discipline.
You have to be disciplined and consistent. No one's going to do it for you. So you have to keep getting up and doing it for yourself, and figuring it out, and trusting that those around you who are there to support you, who are there to see you be successful, will be able to help you along that path.
And so definitely keeping those things in mind is always important on your entrepreneurial journey. Spend some time thinking about what you're really passionate about, what you're really good at, and what problem you can solve with those gifts and those skills that you have. Then go do some research and gather some knowledge about what you think will work best for you.
And if you decide that this is a path that you want to go down, then go ahead and start. Start small. Start now and continue to be consistent. I think that would lead you on the path to success.
Why We Share These Stories
We believe that celebrating Tennessee’s entrepreneurs will inspire the next generation of bold thinkers, risk-takers, and community builders. Entrepreneurs don’t forget where they come from—and they carry the power to transform not just their businesses, but entire neighborhoods, towns, and local economies. See more entrepreneur stories from the Patton Foundation.
