What’s more New York than the corner bodega? I tracked down busy Queens-based vegan entrepreneur Eric Hopf to interview him on his plans to open a cruelty-free and aptly named Vegan Bodega in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. To get your juices flowing here’s a short video introduction, featuring Eric himself.
[Daniel] Obligatory vegan story request. What was it that led you to become a vegan? Give us a little background.
[Eric] I gave up meat when I was 17 and went vegan at 18 but it did not last, due to a lack of understanding of basic nutrition and an aversion to vegetables at the time. Over time my palate has changed and I know how to eat after educating myself.
What do you do with your time when you’re not working on Vegan Bodega?
I am a stay at home dad, I photograph now and then, build websites, and cook for my family.
Tell me about the exact moment you realized Vegan Bodega was going to happen.
Well, the thought had been in my mind for a while, and one day I started to talk about my idea with my significant other. I was explaining the market and how NY vegans were waiting for a place like this. She just looked at me and said, ‘It sounds great, do it!”
What inspired you to start Vegan Bodega? Do you have any vegan entrepreneur heroes or mentors?
The inspiration came from two sources – seeing shops in the Pacific Northwest, and a trip to Orlando, my hometown. When I went to Seattle and Portland over two years ago, I saw functioning money making businesses and thought NYC needed one. I didn’t think I could do it until I found Artichoke Red in Florida. This small shop was surviving in a tiny market for vegans and producing positive cash flow. Seeing that store, I knew this was could work. I can’t name everyone I look up to, but so many vegan business owners have been supportive with their guidance.
Looking back at yourself as a child and young adult, could you have foreseen yourself running a food business? What in your life pushed you towards this path?
Having worked in the restaurant industry since my first real employment, I thought it was just a field I would be in as I went through high school and college. Turns out I love food, sharing my favorites and seeing people really enjoying what they are eating.
Your indiegogo.com campaign site doesn’t mention a potential location, but I read in the Village Voice food column that you’re looking at the Lower East Side. What are your thoughts on location and hours? Delivery?
We feel that the store needs to be close to as many different modes of public transportation as possible, as most customers will be traveling 15-30 minutes or more to visit us. The Lower East Side has that, as well as other vegan shops and a great atmosphere. Hours have not yet been determined. Right now, we are working with the idea of 10AM – 8PM six days a week to start and see how folks like those hours and if people need us open more often. Concerning delivery, we are trying to determine how it will work in regards to a minimum order, maximum radius, and delivery fees. Everything depends on what our shoppers want and request.
What do you think people should be most excited about when shopping at Vegan Bodega? Are there particular items that you find people request often? Do you predict any popular items? Any exclusives?
What, you mean an all vegan store isn’t enough to get you so excited you wet yourself? I think some of the more interesting things will be the vintage 70′s candy machine dispensing vegan and accidentally vegan candies for the kids (both big and small,) the prospect of sliced meat substitutes by the pound and getting most everything you need and want in one go. As with any large community, everyone has their own tastes and we haven’t had a lot of repeated requests, save Upton’s Natural seitan. I think some of the more popular items will be candies, Cavi-Art, and some local food producers we are talking to about carrying their products. I don’t think we will have anything exclusive. But I believe, though I could be wrong, that we will be the only store in the Northeast to carry 2 or 3 kinds of vegan queso.
Will Vegan Bodega have a deli counter that makes sandwiches, or will it be by-the-pound? Any surprises in store? (no pun intended)
Currently, we are looking at having the aforementioned sliced meat alternatives but after the store is up and running, we will investigate if the demand is there for sandwiches. We are also looking at having other non-sliced items to weigh and sell. Chick’n salad, raw cole slaw, and some other items.
Will vegan bodega offer cosmetics and accessories from vegan companies? Tell us what a girlie-girl has to look forward to.
Well, that is a great question. We are planning on stocking toiletries and everyday items like lip balm, hair care products, etc. We are extremely interested in hearing what vegans would like us to carry. Although we are going to be heavily focused on food, we want to have what our customers need, within reason.
I hear you’re into vegan fashion. Can you recommend any designers, stores to vegan new yorkers?
Well, I’m more into fashion as a byproduct of working in photography, where I predominately work on fashion and lifestyle shoots. Most of the designers I know are thanks to my significant other being a compendium of vegan info as well as big into supporting new businesses. Leanne Hilgart of Vaute Couture is fantastic and gave us great business advice, then there is Elizabeth Olsen’s Olsen Haus shoes, Julie and Gina of Cri de Coeur, Joshua Katcher’s small runs of eco-concious fashion, Dan Mims and there are loads of others, but they are all well covered in GGA and other NYC blogs. I’m not so hip that I know of small designers on the verge of breaking big.
What’s your favorite vegan product. Favorite vegan restaurant? Favorite vegan meal?
Product right now is Chris and Dan’s creation, Dun-Well Doughnuts. I don’t have one favorite and when my family really likes a place, we eat there all the time until we find a new one. Favorite meal is still probably the Massaman Curry at Pukk.
Why should non-vegans be excited about a vegan convenience store? Do you think that your store will create some awareness?
I think anything new and interesting is both exciting and scary for some. I think it will serve as a great place for people to take their friends when they are curious or say to them, “Wow, you’re vegan, I could never do that. If you don’t eat meat or cheese, what’s left to live for?”, or a variation of that same old question.
Thanks to Eric Hopf for taking time out of a busy schedule to share the inside scoop on his inspiring Vegan Bodega project. At the time of this writing, the Vegan Bodega fund-raising campaign on indiegogo.com had raised $3,230 of the $15,000 goal. To support the Vegan Bodega fund-raising campaign, visit their indiegogo.com page:
http://www.indiegogo.com/Vegan-Bodega-NYCs-Vegan-Convenience-Store
