Pat Bruener is going for broke with Bankrupt Bodega.
In April he opened the business at 4120 Main Street in Bloomfield. It’s a retail shop/art gallery/event space/film processing lab all packed into 300 square feet.
Historically, bodegas are ethnic enclaves and community hubs where people could buy necessary goods, but also form relationships. The rise in popularity of big box stores and online shopping has all but wiped out good ol’ mom-and-pop shops.
With the opening of Bankrupt Bodega, Bruener is hoping to bring a more personal touch to the shopping experience and give back to a local charity.
A percentage of proceeds from every sale goes to an area nonprofit organization. The store will also sponsor events like last year’s 412 Miles for 412 Food Rescue bike ride, which raised nearly $10,000 in 2020.
It also will offer services such as film processing under the name Bodega Film Lab and artwork photography for local artists looking to digitize their creations. In the future, Bruener would like to host photography classes and workshops.
With his camera in tow, Bruener toured with the band The Clock Reads and built a name for himself as a concert photographer.
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