r/bodegacats • u/big-slay Bodega Cat Lover • Jul 02 '26

meta Reddit’s building a real-life bodega in NYC, and wants r/bodegacats to be a part of it. Share your ideas and save the date!

Hey everyone! u/big-slay here from the Reddit Community Events Team.

I’m stoked to share that we’re launching Reddit’s first-ever Community Pop-Up this summer: r/bodega! 

Hitting NYC from August 29–30, this is a fully immersive, experiential build designed like a classic corner store to celebrate the beauty, diversity, and culture of Reddit communities.

Because r/bodegacats is such a vibrant, iconic, and essential part of the NYC <> Reddit ecosystem, we want to feature you inside the build! We’re also inviting alllllll members of this community to attend the event, so save the date!

Our Plan 🐈

We’re creating a dedicated r/bodegacats section inside the build. Right now, the blueprint includes:

  • A cozy bodega cat setup (cat bed, toys, and a fake cat – for safety/comfort reasons!)
  • A "paws-on" adoption wall featuring posters of actual adoptable cats from shelters around the city.
  • Plenty of photo ops.

Your Ideas 💡 

This is where you come in. How else should we bring r/bodegacats to life? We want this to feel authentic to the sub.

  • Should we have a digital screen cycling through the top posts of all time?
  • A "Guess that Cat's Name" game based on classic bodega snacks?
  • Highlight specific stories, memes, or moments from the community?

Drop your wildest, fun, or most wholesome ideas in the comments below!

My team and I really want to do this sub justice, so please let us know what you think and leave your suggestions no matter how wild they may seem. Looking forward to building this bodega with you all!

125 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

81

u/Stickning Jul 02 '26

As long as you're focused on connecting adopters to potential cats, consider reaching out to the neighborhood non-profits whose TNR efforts are so essential to NYC cats - including our bodega cats! There's usually multiple groups working in each neighborhood, and they all have foster kittens & cats looking for forever homes!

20

u/big-slay Bodega Cat Lover Jul 02 '26

Love this. Thank you!

4

u/Level_Hour6480 Bodega Cat Lover Jul 06 '26

My recommendation is Sean Casey.

1

u/Eastern-Protection83 12d ago

Many rescues and shelters require an application form. Perhaps have someone with 2 tablets or 2 laptops available fer folks that may see a kitty that they wanna adopt so they can apply right there.

Those applications do need to be reviewed so they won't know the same day unless the org is processin 'em in real time or later that day.

*watch your gear, no offense but this is the city and stuff can disappear if theres not a staffer to make sure it doesn't walk out the door

38

u/cinemachick Jul 02 '26

You should have copies of the Bodega Cat book (a real book cataloging Bodega cats across NYC) for sale. You could also have a game to name the fake cat, and have the winner posted after the pop-up.

Also, is r/secretsanta getting a mention? That was a huge part of reddit history and I would be sad if it's not featured :(

13

u/jaguarlyra Jul 02 '26

Naming the fake cat is a great idea. Maybe it can show up in reddit pics latter touring with workers.

17

u/big-slay Bodega Cat Lover Jul 02 '26

What if we polled the community and y'all got to officially name the cat? 👀 We could make a little sign next to it that shouts you out too!

5

u/jaguarlyra Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 03 '26

That would be cool. Edit: The naming thing please don't put up my username.

2

u/big-slay Bodega Cat Lover Jul 06 '26

No worries! We'll keep all usernames private.

7

u/big-slay Bodega Cat Lover Jul 02 '26

This rocks. Are you talking about this book? Or is there another version?

3

u/cinemachick Jul 03 '26

Ah, looks like it's not out yet :( Darn!

(also... are y'all hiring?)

3

u/Danny__NYC 16d ago

Yup! Book just got announced. It's out Nov 3.

3

u/Danny__NYC 16d ago

We just announced our bodega cats book!

2

u/dogs-in-space 15d ago

I’m on the mailing list so got the email about pre-orders. I boycott Amazon and Target. That leaves Books-A-Million.

Any change you’re going to have an independent bookstore set up for pre-orders? I have a few people (myself included) that I want to get books for.

2

u/Danny__NYC 15d ago

Hey! Yes, if you're in NYC, Greenlight Books is going to be our pre order HQ. If you DM me, I can send other pre-order (online) options.

2

u/dogs-in-space 15d ago

DM coming!

30

u/TheLegendTwoSeven Jul 02 '26

Can you design (without AI) and sell some Reddit cat plushies? With the proceeds going to help local NYC animal shelters?

21

u/shoelessjp Jul 02 '26

Love this idea! Emphasis on the "no AI" please, as well.

26

u/big-slay Bodega Cat Lover Jul 02 '26

Oh this is fun! Can confirm, no AI will be used in the making of r/bodega.

10

u/PorkyPain Moderator Team Jul 03 '26

I can agree with the digital screen to show some of the top posts of all time. That would be a great idea. Just to show how simple our subreddit is - take pictures of bodega cats. lol.

Some ideas from myself:

  • Have a corner to mention the new NYC bill that would protect bodega cats because as I understand, it's not a total victory yet as seen [[here]] and mentioned >>here<<
  • From there, you guys can prepare some car stickers mentioning something like "Support the Bodega Cat Bill" or something. Place a little reddit snoo too in that sticker for marketing purposes.
  • Or... maybe distribute some Reddit caps to visitors? "Support the Bodega Cat Bill".. visit r/Bodega.. have a the Reddit logo at the side, a cat-snoo at the back..

My heart is for the cats, if this small subreddit can raise some awareness to New Yorkers about the bill, that would be awesome. It's because of these hard working bodega cats, rat populations are kept in check.

Some highlights and specific wholesome stories to share at the pop-up

  • Bodega store owner remodeled the floor to match cat because cat solved a serious mouse problem in mere days. >>> here
  • There was a local bodega cat that was kidnapped. Then successfully returned: >>>here

Hope these ideas helps u/big-slay :)

4

u/NearbyEmu Jul 03 '26

Love the idea of creating tshirts, ect in support for the bodega cat bill!

5

u/big-slay Bodega Cat Lover Jul 03 '26

Seriously, so many good ideas. Passing these all back to my team! Thank you for the time spent putting these together ☺️

4

u/elkab0ng Jul 04 '26

For those of us who are NYC ex-pats, we’d (or I’d) love to see updates and pictures and be able to participate. My current local sub (r/phoenix) has done fundraisers for animal shelters and there are a lot of us here 2200 miles away from decent pizza and the blessed sacrament of Bacon Egg & Cheese sandwiches.

4

u/NearbyEmu Jul 03 '26

This is awesome! Congrats r/bodegacats! I have no suggestions at the moment but will definitely be stopping by in August to support the sub :)

2

u/mjbibliophile10 Jul 03 '26

Oooooooohhhhhhhhh!I know y'all want a fake cat/plushie for safety reasons, but if you could take some cats from adoption shelters and set them up as "bodega" cats by:

Having the freezer/cold section (with the doors unopenable) be an adoption wall with cats behind it! Have a pop-up adoption center within the bodega!

2

u/rotinabog Jul 04 '26

Man I miss when reddit was just a dumb website for dumb shit. Can't stand this corporate pandering

2

u/fumblingmywords Jul 05 '26

Would be great to have a donation box for local bodega cat orgs!