WILMINGTON — The rapidly developing South Front District will be joined by The Bodega, a combination of local market, bistro lunch counter, and community hang-out familiar on the street-corners of many northern cities.
Owner Ryan Horne said the planned 1,000-square-foot building on South Third Street will host produce, farm-fresh goods, and a small menu for takeaway or dining in the backyard area.
“We’re going for that neighborhood bodega like you’d see up North,” Horne said. “We’ll have fresh produce, and all those things you’d want from a farmers’ market – cheese, eggs, honey.”
The Bodega will also feature a flat-top grill, the venerable heart of bodega take-away cooking in most major cities. Horne said the grill will serve a limited menu, around ten items, with sandwiches, burritos, and other classics.
“We want everything simple, not like a 40-item menu,” Horne said.
Horne said The Bodega will also offer “a bottle-shop area,” with mix-and-match six packs of craft beer. Once the market is up and running, Horne said he hopes to add dessert.
“Again, we want to start simple, but you know, maybe four flavors of good ice-cream,” Horne said.
Out back, Horne said there will be community space in the yard behind the market.
“We want that bistro feel, where people can come by and get their groceries and grab a bite, and sit outside with their dog for 20-30 minutes,” Horne said. “We’ll have picnic tables and corn-hole.”
The building itself, Horne said, will be built from mostly repurposed material sourced from around the state, a style that fits in with the South Front District’s use of cargo-containers and industrial-chic design.
“We’re going for an industrial repurposed feel,” Horne said. “Exposed rafters, shiplap siding, acid-washed concrete floors.”
Horne said he was excited about the area, and hopes to see other businesses open along the stretch of South Third Street. Horne said locals have been asking about the former Roy’s Appliance shop, across from The Bodega site.
“It’s a great spot for a higher-end restaurant, I think, a white-tablecloth spot,” Horne said. “It’s the kind of thing that could really work in this area now – I’m really excited to see what it all looks like in three years.”
The Bodega will be located at 1222 South Third St. at the intersection of Kidder Street. Horne said his team is “locked and loaded” and ready for construction, pending approval by the Technical Review Committee, which will review plans for The Bodega on October 18.
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