Muñoz Family Purchased Columbus Bar Bodega
The restaurant operators plan to rebrand the long-standing Short North establishment after acquiring the business in September.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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In early September 2026, the Muñoz family, owners of Cilantro Latin Fusion and Valencia Bakery, completed the purchase of Bodega at 1044 N. High St. The acquisition of the local staple, which originally opened in 2005, followed two weeks of negotiations.
Why it matters
The new ownership intends to pivot the venue away from its previous draft beer-focused business model toward a cocktail and food-centric operation. This transition reflects a broader shift in the portfolio of the incoming operators as they scale their local hospitality footprint.
The sale of Bodega and Apt B, which originally opened in 2005, was finalized following two weeks of negotiations. The new owners plan a six-week renovation project to update the interior of the 1044 N. High St. location.
The players
Muñoz Family
Hospitality entrepreneurs who operate Cilantro Latin Fusion and Valencia Bakery in the Columbus area.
Brian Swanson
The former owner of Bodega who is currently focused on relocating his Bristol Republic restaurant.
Bodega
A long-standing bar and social hub located in the Short North district of Columbus.
Cilantro Latin Fusion
A Latin-inspired restaurant concept that expanded from a food truck into a brick-and-mortar location in 2023.
The details
The Muñoz family plans to modernize the space by repainting, replacing furniture, and updating lighting and wallpaper. Operations will be guided by data collected from a pop-up kitchen to refine the new food and cocktail offerings. The transition allows the former owner to prioritize relocating the Bristol Republic restaurant to Dublin's Bridge Park.
Timeline
Bodega originally opened in 2005.
The Cilantro Latin Fusion food truck debuted in 2021.
The sale of Bodega to the Muñoz family closed in early September 2026.
Valencia Bakery opened near Polaris in September 2026.
Renovations are scheduled to begin in late October 2026.
Market Landscape
The acquisition marks a significant expansion for the Muñoz family, following a growth pattern established by their 2023 opening of the Cilantro Latin Fusion brick-and-mortar restaurant. This move highlights the ongoing consolidation of hospitality venues within the competitive Short North district.
Operators looking to acquire existing hospitality assets should leverage data from pop-up or temporary kitchen tests to validate new menu concepts before committing to long-term interior renovations. Ensure that the rebranding timeline accounts for potential supply chain delays during the construction period.
The takeaway
Successful hospitality transitions often hinge on using past pop-up performance data to refine future revenue streams. Operators should monitor the renovation timeline and new logo launch to gauge how the market responds to the strategic pivot from beer to food and cocktails.
What happens next
Renovations are slated for completion around Thanksgiving 2026, with a potential rebranding event scheduled for mid-November 2026.
Further reading
Read more about other business developments in the Openings & Closings section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NBC4i.
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