Is it a bar? It it a bodega?
At Southtown’s newest hangout, it’s both. Or as co-owner Hannah Brierly puts it, “It’s a bar-dega.”
Inside the revamped space beneath Southtown House of Spirits, Brierly and fellow founders Roel Garza and Derek Lyssy have created a spot where patrons can sip cocktails and shop for snacks, merging two distinct vibes under one roof.
Southtown Bodega, 727 S. Alamo St., is scheduled to make its official debut Thursday, July 10.
“Southtown House of Spirits has more of a cocktail lounge feel, but if you’re after something casual, the bodega bar is downstairs,” Brierly told the Current.
She added that the team intentionally created two distinct atmospheres within the Lavaca-neighborhood building.
The main entry leads guests straight into the bodega. A look to the left reveals a deli counter with cheeses and cold cuts for sandwiches. Snacks and cold drinks are located to the right, and a prominent archway past the potato chips and groceries beckons to the bar in the back.
“Don’t be a dick,” read the bar rules hanging over a Darth Vader Pez dispenser, as if the Star Wars villain is keeping a close eye on patrons.
Drinks are simple. In addition to a selection of beers, the bar offers one option each for Prosecco, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir plus a small selection of drink specials.
If the bar’s decor exudes a That 70’s Show feel, then team Southtown Bodega accomplished its goal.
“We definitely wanted Southtown Bodega to channel a ’70s and ’80s vibe,” Brierly said.
Drinks come in no-frills plastic tumblers — even the wine — and tucked off to the side is a nostalgic setup many millennials will recognize: a circle of couches gathered around a chunky box TV, complete with a working Nintendo 64 hooked up to the original input cables. A VCR with classic tapes keeps the gaming console company, offering options ranging from Clarissa Explains It All to Star Wars:A New Hope for view in a pre-Netflix format.
With an original Mario Kart cartridge ready and raring to go, adults can indulge in a strong pour of nostalgia at Southtown Bodega — as long as they follow the No. 1 bar rule.
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This article appears in Jun 26 – Jul 9, 2025.