While traveling around Central and South America, JT Taber II and Jacqueline Garay noticed many communities had neighborhood corner stores, which served as a local gathering space as well as a place to purchase necessities.
The two, now newlyweds, had purchased a home in the Garfield neighborhood near downtown Phoenix, and Taber had been eyeing a shop space at 10th and Pierce streets, across the street from the Gallo Blanco restaurant where he had previously worked.
“I loved this space, and I knew the landlord, and I had told him that if the space ever became available to let me know,” Taber said. When the space opened up, the two decided to fulfill their vision of a small neighborhood market, which would fill some needs they had identified in the area. The store, called Buena Vida Bodega, sells food, beer and wine, flowers, local art, gifts, plants and other items, most of which are sourced from local producers.
Garay said while living in the neighborhood, the two sometimes found themselves wishing there was a place nearby where they could buy certain items, without having to drive into the more commercial areas on the north side of Interstate 10.