Image courtesy of Adalid Lopez and Time Out. The DJ stands under a “Please Order Here” sign.
By: Roxanne Fernandes
Yup, you heard that right: Secret Bronx Bodega Raves.
Over the summer, DJ collective MUNDO kicked off a series of secret, underground raves in an ordinary bodega in the South Bronx. Time Out describes the vibe as “block party meets house party meets the club” and says the DJs were inspired by parties they went to growing up, in houses, basements, and boiler rooms. Think sweaty, intense energy meets a contagious crowd hungry for a good time.
MUNDO is a collaboration between three Bronx natives, DJ duo Dos Flakos and DJ Guari, who wanted to break the mold, explaining to Time Out, “In the Bronx, there’s a lot of bottle service clubs and they have a very rigid formula for how they do business… they don’t like to experiment.” MUNDO wanted to bring something fresh to the table and create a space where people could dance and have fun. A bar is attached to the deli, which itself doubles as a makeshift dance floor, buzzing with Caribbean and Latin beats and experimental sounds, a diversion from the mainstream music found at most venues. The raves are spread through word-of-mouth, keeping them exclusive to those in the know.
It comes as no surprise that there’s a growing desire for nightlife after the last few years. People are eager to go out, let loose, and meet new faces. We’ve seen this through the popularity of Boiler Room events and the club-inspired concerts on Charli XCX and Troye Sivan’s Sweat tour. The interest in 2010s nostalgia like the flashy Jersey Shore era and the gritty attitude of the indie sleaze revival have only added to the resurgence of the nightlife aesthetic.
The bodega aspect of MUNDO’s raves adds a distinct flavor to the nightlife scene with an unapologetically Bronx edge. According to a New York Post article, attendees expressed that there’s nothing more authentic to New York than the local deli. The bodega brings people together in a way that can’t be replicated at a typical club in Manhattan. The unpolished energy of the space only adds to its charm, reinforcing the original experience MUNDO hopes to bring to life.
So what do you say—bodega rave next weekend?
Sources: TIME OUT, New York Post
