The Bodega at Roebling is bringing food and drinks from across the country to Covington.
Jamir Davis, the founder of Bodega at Roebling, is an avid traveler. He told LINK nky that his travels informed what he wanted to sell at the shop.
Davis, who hails from San Francisco, which he said is one of the most diverse food cities in the United States, wants his customers to experience new foods he grew up with in the Bay Area or found while traveling.
“I’ve gotten a lot of experience tasting different foods and visiting different places, and this, this bodega, is just a culmination of unique travel experiences that I’ve had, combined with great culinary opportunities that I’ve had to experience,” Davis said. “We want to bring that to this region and give people the opportunity to experience great food and a great environment.”
The Bodega at Roebling offers a variety of breakfast and lunch options, such as New York-style bagels, bagel sandwiches, charcuterie boards, quiche, coffee, tea and other snacks.
The bodega also has a mini wine room and a speakeasy inspired by the Prohibition era. Its beverage menu includes beer, wine, champagne and craft cocktails.
When exploring the idea of opening a bodega, Davis focused heavily on location. 326 Scott Blvd. is less than a mile from several of Covington’s largest office buildings, including the RiverCenter, Gateway Center, and DBL Law Building.
His law office – J. Davis Law Firm – is located directly next door. The OneNKY Center, which will act as a headquarters for many Northern Kentucky’s nonprofits, is nearly complete, bringing another workforce crowd to the Roebling Point area.
In general, Roebling Point is a high-traffic area due to the presence of other popular small businesses like Molly Malone’s, Roebling Books & Coffee, Smoke Justis and Frosthaus.
In addition, the bodega is only blocks away from the Covington Central Riverfront project, which is transforming 23 acres of riverfront land into a mixed-use development. Davis anticipates that the Bodega at Roebling will benefit from the increased foot traffic generated by the development once it is finished.
“We really designed it for the community and understanding the different needs that everyone around here has,” Davis said. “For one, in the morning, we’ll do bagels for people who are on their early morning break or just need something quick to grab as they’re going into work.”
Davis also sees the bodega as a small community market that residents can frequent if they need to quickly purchase staple food items like a carton of eggs, a gallon of milk or a bottle of olive oil. Besides Dee Felice Market or Madison Avenue Kroger, the closest grocery store to the bodega is miles up Interstate 75 in Fort Mitchell.
“If you live in this area down here, you may forget something at the grocery store,” Davis said. “You may run to Kroger and say, ‘oh, I forgot to grab eggs,’ or, ‘oh, it’s early on a Saturday morning, and I just need a couple of eggs to make breakfast’ and you don’t want to drive all the way out to Kroger or Trader Joe’s, you can just stop in.”
Since the bodega’s opening on March 27, Davis said the community has responded positively. He hopes the business can contribute to the growth of downtown Covington, providing the area with another staple business.
“Just seeing the growth of Covington and the friendliness of the people and the business owners in this region has just made it the right fit for what we’re trying to do. Roebling, point in particular, is amazing,” said Davis.
The Bodega at Roebling will operate with a varied weekly schedule. From Monday through Thursday, it will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the Bodega only. On Fridays, the Bodega will maintain the same 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. hours, with the wine room and speakeasy operating from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
On Saturday, the Bodega is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by the wine room and speakeasy from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. On Sundays, only the wine room and speakeasy will be open, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“Our hearts are in this project, and we can’t wait to share it with the community,” General Manager Kaylah Bozman said in a press release. “We hope The Bodega at Roebling becomes a place where people gather, celebrate, and make memories.”
