News
South Florida's Bodega expanding fast casual, speakeasy concept
February 9, 2023
Bodega, a South Florida-based fast casual taco joint by day and speakeasy-style lounge by night, is opening four locations.
"With the influx and growth of Florida, we've been presented with the opportunity to push our expansion efforts for both our Taqueria y Tequila and Taqueria concepts throughout the entire state," Jared Galbut, co-founder and president of Menin Hospitality, said in a company press release. "Over the last six years, the Bodega brand has built a loyal following among Miami locals and visitors alike, and we're thrilled to bring the Bodega experience to each of these new locales."
Joining the flagship Bodega Taqueria y Tequila in South Beach (2015) and Fort Lauderdale (2020), the next two Bodega Taqueria y Tequila locations will open this year in Coconut Grove and West Palm Beach featuring the brand's food and beverage menus as well as its speakeasy lounge.
Amid the pandemic, however, Bodega saw an increase in demand for its take-out and delivery orders reinforcing the need to expand with a Taqueria-only concept. Bodega Taqueria will mirror the fast casual food portion that makes up Bodega Taqueria y Tequila by offering a menu of tacos, burritos and other customer favorites as well as frozen margaritas and bottled cocktails.
"The fast casual restaurant model is more relevant now than ever before — people want fast quick service of authentic cuisine at approachable prices," Galbut said. "The Aventura demographic is perfect for our first Taqueria with its dense residential footprint and, with our built-in loyal following due to the (close) proximity to both our South Beach and Fort Lauderdale locations."
Bodega Taqueria, 19129 Biscayne Blvd., will be the first of the brand's food-only concept to open its doors. Construction is underway of the 1,500-square-foot Taqueria slated to begin welcoming guests in summer 2021. Opening in 2023, Bodega Taqueria in Wynwood is a 2,000-square-foot space on the first floor of Society Wynwood (2431 N.W. 2nd Ave).
Additional Bodega Taqueria locations will open in 2022 in North Beach and in 2023 in downtown Miami inside of Natiivo Miami, servicing the Brickell area. Bodega Taqueria will offer a menu of authentic Mexican street food that guests order from the brand's full-sized, retrofitted vintage airstream trailer-turned-taco-truck, according to a company press release.
