GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The food scene in Grand Rapids continues to expand, and one of the newest eateries is promising a taste of New York. Brooklyn Bodega just opened at 10 Jefferson Avenue SE, offering a multitude of made-to-order meals.
“We offer bagels with cream cheese, and all of our cream cheeses are house made,” co-owner Saaquan Jefferson said. “We also have breakfast sandwiches, French toast and pancakes, all day. And then we have a whole list of different meats and cheeses.”
The restaurant, which just opened in the last month, also offers fresh salads, chicken tenders, a signature “chopped cheese,” and dozens of other options. Saaquan, a native of Brooklyn, NY, co-owns the shop with his wife Myleka. They pulled inspiration from the streets of New York where bodegas are commonplace.
“They're basically on every corner,” Saaquan said. “So for me, I grew going to all of these different types of places. Just being here in Grand Rapids, I kind of missed that whole vibe. Basically that's where the whole idea for the bodega comes from.”
“I was born and raised here in Grand Rapids,” Myleka said. ”For some time, we traveled back and forth to Brooklyn, and one of the main attractions from me was the food, in particular I would have to say the bacon, egg, and cheese on a roll or bagel, and the Boars Head meat and cheese on the hero bread. So when the opportunity came for us to bring a taste of Brooklyn to Grand Rapids, I was all for it.”
This is the couple’s first time owning a restaurant. They said there have been challenges, but they’ve enjoyed overcoming everything together.
“It’s a beautiful thing, just to be able to be around somebody that you love, that sees your vision, that wants to be successful,” Saaquan said. “Obviously this is my wife, so there's a union there. My success is her success and vice versa. But it also has its trials, just like anything else. We have our good days and bad days, but overall, we have our same common goal, so it makes it that much easier for us.”
Brooklyn Bodega is currently open 9-5 Monday through Saturday. All essential workers, college students, and high school students get a 10% discount. For more information, check them out on Facebook and Instagram.
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.