08/08/2025
A Heart Note from The Bodega (please be kind, this is about as tender as it gets from our hearts)
First of all, I want to apologize. Some of you saw a post in a group on Facebook today with some info that we were planning to share very soon, but we were still trying to have a few more personal conversations with some folks who needed to hear it first before we went public to our beloved tribe out here in the online space.
It was with good intentions, but now it is out there, and so we need to take a moment today to clear up some confusion and speak from the heart before any more pieces of our story are told, so you can hear the details that we know as of now, from us. You deserve that because you've loved us so well. It matters to us to return that in every way we know how.
First of all, The Bodega is not closing.
Well, not completely.
Yes — changes are coming, and yes — our brick-and-mortar location at 2808 Grand Central will be closing. (August 30)
The doors will continue to swing wide open until August 30, which will serve as our gratitude and goodbye to 2808 day.
Our friends at The Watering Can Art Studio will continue to show up here daily at 2808 and be a source of goodness and light to our community, and that honestly makes it sooo much easier to make this decision. People will still be loved here, and the blood, sweat, and tears will have gone into the soil for something good to grow. It’s time to pass the baton.
There are many reasons that we have made this decision, and far too many details to share in one post. We will tell a fuller story in the days to come, but for today, we need to start with the basics.
This chapter has meant the world to us. The memories shared around these tables, the stories exchanged over cups of coffee, the joy, the grief, the laughter — this place has been a sacred space. So sacred and we have held it with tender hands because we love it so very much. The tears and late nights and prayers and conversations trying to make some of these decisions have been labored over, I promise.
We are incredibly sad to end this portion of the journey, and trust us when we say we have done everything we could to keep it from happening for the last 7 years.
BUT, we are so profoundly grateful to have something so beautiful that is so hard to say goodbye to.
What a gift 2808 has been! Those seats by the windows, the door table with your notes tucked underneath, the pay it forward wall … the memories have been like a Rolodex with so many faces and hearts coming to mind.
You’ll be hearing more from us in the coming days — about our timeline, what’s next, and how we hope to stay connected — but for today, we just wanted to say this:
The heart behind The Bodega? It’s still very much alive. This was never ever just about a job for us.
✅ The Bodega trailer (Betty!) will continue to roll out to select events, and we will do some pop-ups at some of our favorite spaces — because we’re still going to want to see your faces.
✅ Our bagged coffee will still be available for your homes, parties, and offices. We will be moving to pre-orders, and we will have ways to pick up at our pop-up or ship to your door.
✅ We plan to continue our collaborations with Sweet Ash Cookies, so you’ll still see that yummy goodness with us out and about from time to time.
✅ And most of all — our commitment to people, purpose, and pouring into our community has not changed. Perhaps without the stress of trying to keep the balls in the air from M-S, on top of teaching full-time, and trying to get my health back together, we will find more time to do the things that made our hearts pitter-patter in the beginning. Because we are always gonna be about drinking good coffee and doing good work and our people. And you are certainly now, our people!
If we could ask one favor, please, when you’re sharing this with folks, or folks are sharing it with you, be careful with how you tell the story. Please help us tell it well. The chapter at 2808 is closing - but we’re not willing to say that the Bodega’s story is over. Sometimes a pivot and some rest is just the thing you need.
And one more note from somewhere deep in my heart, if you’ll allow me: this is a difficult time for small businesses, not just ours. So today, if you have a local spot you love — show up. We have a whole host of beautiful entrepreneurial ventures in this area that make us, us, and they need you. We all do. Pick a few and be really intentional about encouraging them consistently right now. With your words and your dollars, if you can. I hear from my small business friends often, and they can’t always say these things out loud, but they’re working so hard and they’re tired. A little bit of love and encouragement would go a long way. Maybe that’s your good work prompt for the day. ;)
Thank you for the honor of letting us serve you at 2808.
Thank you for bringing your stories through our doors. Sitting at the tables we set every day, hoping you’d come and rest and make memories with your people.
We will carry the love and memories of this place with us always — and we hope you will too.
More soon. With love and gratitude always —
Jen and The Bodega Team
