WHY WE STARTED BODEGA
In the early 2000s, Bodega’s founders: Jay Gordon, Dan N. and Oliver Mak were struggling artists who couldn't find meaningful work. Oliver was juggling DJing, producing events in the fashion and art scene, working in nightclubs and starting a non-profit finding paid art gigs for talented teenagers. Through a street marketing company, Oliver met Jay and through the Floorlords B-boy crew, Dan N. was introduced to collaborate on the City of Boston Hip Hop Peace & Unity Festival.
By 2006, Bodega was open as a concept fusing art, fashion, design and counterculture. We're beyond humbled & honored that we've grown into a multi-dimensional company with various departments, workflows and a vibrant team that gets to work on projects around the world. We find it more important than ever to make sure every member of our team understands and works towards our values and mission.
OUR MISSION
Bodega’s mission is to empower creative expression within youth culture by discovering the everyday magic hidden in plain sight.
The outward facing projects of Bodega are our brick and mortar and e-commerce retail, Private Label Brand, Boston Art Book Fair (founder), Pirate Radio, and pop-up art experiences.
Our vision is to create for and inspire those who seek more than the ordinary.
Our values
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Discovery
From the brands we carry to the design stories we choose to tell, Bodega was created as a tool to expose the world to our ideals & aesthetic . Internally , Discovery relates to new ideas generated from all levels of the organization and our constant development of skills.
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Connection
Our success stems from creating an unexpected, welcoming gallery out of the retail space, where all kinds of people can unite through a love of fashion, art, counterculture and design. Internally, this value is reflected by our focus on communication, empathy and cooperation.
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Community
Our aims are to help support the creative community in our neighborhoods and help lead the next generation while growing creative careers for our team. We believe supporting the community is a key reason of why Bodegas are a cultural icon.
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Inclusivity
We love that street fashion & street culture are inherently diverse. We want everyone to be welcomed in our team & in our stores & events regardless of race, affiliation, age, etc.
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Creativity
The magic of Bodega is seen when people have their mind blown by our hidden retail concept or when they find an unexpected yet profound connection with someone else at one of our events. We want others to be inspired to create a better future by the experiences & artifacts of our brand. We also strive to unlock the creative potential of our teams & those who support us.
