By Rosanny Crumpton
Photos courtesy of Fulton Brand
![La Bodeguita Creates at Camp North End]
How La Bodeguita Forms Connection Through Creativity
IIn a world where loneliness quietly lingers for many people post-pandemic, one Charlotte creative space is offering something simple, meaningful and deeply human — connection. Tucked inside Camp North End, La Bodeguita invites people to slow down, create and reconnect — not just with art, but with themselves and others around them.
Created by therapist and artist Michelle Fernandez, La Bodeguita grew from observations she was seeing firsthand in her therapy practice. “In my work as a therapist, I noticed that a lot of my clients were struggling with the through line of loneliness post-pandemic,” said Fernandez, who grew up in Charlotte. “They didn’t really know how to go about finding spaces or places to meet others.” What began as a simple craft club quickly evolved into something much larger — a full creative wellness concept centered around community, curiosity and healing through artistic expression.
Even the name carries intention. “The name was meant to encapsulate the idea of connection,” Fernandez said, drawing inspiration from the cultural significance of New York City bodegas, spaces traditionally rooted in neighborhood familiarity, culture and gathering.
At La Bodeguita, guests can engage with the space in multiple ways. Some attend curated evening workshops that blend creativity with comfort and nostalgia. “These sessions are meant to feel like your elementary art classroom and your living room in one,” Fernandez said. Workshops feature specific artistic mediums, with some classes led by visiting artists while others are facilitated by Fernandez herself.
From Thursday through Sunday, however, the space transforms into what may be one of Charlotte’s most unique concepts: a full craft café. “People can come in and order craft experiences off a menu just like a coffee shop,” Fernandez explained. “But instead of coffee, they order arts and crafts.” On Thursdays through Sundays, the café operates on a walk-in basis, creating an approachable and low-pressure environment for anyone seeking a creative outlet or simply a different kind of social experience.
While the colorful crafts and cozy atmosphere are certainly part of the appeal, the deeper mission behind La Bodeguita is rooted in wellness and emotional connection. Fernandez, a first-generation Latina, single mother, therapist and artist, returned to art herself during the pandemic to navigate anxiety and reconnect with her own wellbeing.
“Through my own experiences with anxiety, I returned to art as an intervention for wellness,” she said. “It set me on a trajectory to investigate how these intersections of art and mental health could be expanded upon.” Today, that exploration lives within the walls of La Bodeguita every day.
Research continues to highlight the positive relationship between creativity and mental health, including lower levels of loneliness, anxiety and depression. But Fernandez said one of the most powerful outcomes she witnesses is something even more foundational — self-trust.
In the space, they focus on creating room for people to explore without rules, judgment or expectations. It’s an opportunity for reconnection with oneself and, ultimately, better connection with others. “We use art as a tool for reconnection,” she added.
At a time when so many people are craving authentic interaction and spaces where they can simply exist without pressure, La Bodeguita offers an invitation to create imperfectly, gather intentionally and rediscover joy in the process.
And ultimately, that is exactly what Fernandez hopes people carry with them after they leave. “I hope people walk away with a stronger sense of hope and belief in themselves, and their ability to create, cultivate curiosity and form connections both to their own true selves and to the world around them.”