Luke Horgan is giving himself 12 months to try a wild idea. The entrepreneur, who owned the West Side’s Jefferson Bodega before it closed in 2024, is reviving the concept at the SA Yacht Club at 310 W Grayson St — this time as Bodega Moto, a community space opening in November that focuses more on connection than spicy crayfish Lays.
“If we really want better in the world, we need to commit to making it better,” says Horgan of the project, which will activate the Sippy’s Beer & Wine space and the open picnic area in front of the store.
Horgan says he isn’t yet sure what the store will stock, but he will rely on data and his gut to fill up the shelves. The exact mix is almost beside the point.
“It can’t be the same thing it was,” he shares. “But I’m hoping it will enable me to focus more on community.”
Luke Horgan is reinventing shuttered favorite Jefferson Bodega.Photo courtesy of Luke Horgan
Hogan envisions the space as a “gift to the people of San Antonio,” where locals can stop by for a breather and a beer or mingle with neighbors at an event. He says he has a full slate of “free, safe, and fun” happenings on the docket, including live music, petting zoos, and a Lunar New Year celebration. He’s a big believer in “third places,” locations apart from the home and workspace that serve as communal hubs.
“The lack of a legitimate third place is sort of what is wrong with the world,” he says.
Part of the equation is passing along his entrepreneurial knowledge to others to prove that commercial endeavors can be profitable and good to neighbors. He calls Moto an “open-sourced bodega,” with a revenue-sharing model and a mentoring program designed to teach aspiring businesspeople the ins and outs of legalities and marketing.
Joseph Ballista is an early mentee, introducing his new pop-up, Noodle Plug, in early November. The concept pairs instant ramen with housemade broth and classic toppings like marinated egg and chashu pork. Ballista says he wanted to open the kind of place he’d like to go to, where he can experiment with dishes like birria soup dumplings, bulgogi crunch wraps, and maybe even gourmet dirty sodas.
“It will be me, my daughter, and son — [a] true family affair,” shared Ballista. “[I’m] just excited to join the scene and offer something.”
Birria soup dumplings from Noodle PlugPhoto courtesy of Noodle Plug
Family businesses are essential to Horgan. He is hoping to partially finance the operation by selling flowers on the weekends in November and December, hoping to see “families making bouquets together” before Bodega Moto kicks off in earnest in January 2026.
After that, he’s giving himself a tight timeframe to decide whether he wants to keep the concept going or call it quits. Until then, he’s putting all of his time, resources, and energy into making the bodega a success.
“The shocking part is I know I might not win; I might fail,” Horgan explains. “But the more people try things, the more success they’ll have.”