"Uptown Hospitality Group, best known for Uptown Social (587 King Street), Share House (23 Ann Street), and Bodega (23 Ann Street) in downtown Charleston, has expanded to Mount Pleasant with the opening of a second Bodega at 414 W. Coleman Boulevard. Open on Tuesday, February 27, this location of the brunch-heavy restaurant has the same menu as the first location, with the addition of fresh doughnuts and a grab-and-go section. 'The way I’ve been describing Bodega to all my friends who haven’t been able to be here is that it’s just pure nostalgia,' says Alec Gropman, director of culinary operations and partner, 'For me, nostalgia means waking up on Saturday morning with no expectations, no responsibilities, and cracking open a box of cereal and watching cartoons for four hours. Whenever you walk into our space, that’s how we want you to feel — all of your responsibilities are just washing away. You can sit down and have some deep-fried Cinnamon Toast Crunch sticks and a bloody mary and just kick back and relax.' The interiors draw inspiration from New York City bodegas, with tinned ceilings, graffiti, and cabinets of canned goods and candies. The neon 'bacon egg & cheese please' is a nod to the best-selling bacon, egg, and cheese on a hard roll. Other Bodega classics include smoked salmon toast, chocolate chip pancakes, and the Gropfather, a twist on a chicken parm sandwich, made with pesto and nduja. It also offers fun coffee drinks, like a cereal milk latte, and an extensive list of breakfast martinis. Bodega opens daily with the grab-and-go counter starting at 6:30 a.m. and the dining room opening at 8:00 a.m. Eventually, there will be a drive-thru window with orders starting at 6:30 a.m." - Erin Perkins
