A new bodega will aim to bring a taste of New York to Atlanta, offering students and other Atlantans a tasty and convenient food option.
MoMo Bros Bodega is coming to 806 M.L.K. Jr Drive SW. While this will be the first brick-and-mortar location, it’s not new to Atlanta. MoMo Bros began as a food truck, offering food “the Brooklyn way” and serving authentic New York City bodega-style food packed with flavor. Menu items include oxtail mac and cheese, jerk chicken mac and cheese, loaded fries and more. They also serve vegan options.
The bodega will offer similar options, with a focus on convenient and quick options with gourmet flavor, like salads, hot and cold sandwiches, and more.
“Easy, fast food but freshly made,” is how co-founder Ethan Drakes describes the cuisine.
Drakes, who runs MoMo Bros with his brother, began selling cold-cuts out of his dorm at Morehouse College, offering late-night food to busy students who might not have cars to go off campus for a bite to eat.
The bodega, located next to Busy Bee Cafe, will be near Clark Atlanta University.
“I made sure it was accessible for students to walk,” Drakes said. “I’m a business man first but a student as well. I know what they need.”
The restaurant business runs in the family. Their mom runs a restaurant in New York called Brooklyn Beso, which helped develop Drakes’ business acumen and his belief in how important restaurants are to a community.
“Everybody needs to eat. You’ll always have business,” he said.
Drakes said it can be easy to forget just how special food is, especially as a busy and tired college student. But when he sees the smiling faces of customers, he realizes what a blessing it is to be able to provide that for others.
They are hoping to open MoMo Bros Bodega in April. Follow on Instagram @momobrosbodega for updates.
The brothers will be highlighted at the Atlanta Hawks’ annual HBCU Night at State Farm Arena on Feb. 23, 2025. They are also conducting a GoFundMe campaign to help support the business.
