Venice’s old corner store on Penmar Avenue is getting a reboot. On Wednesday, Bodega and Palms, a compact neighborhood market and cafe, will open in the former Mitchell’s Market space, with husband-and-wife team Philip and Kaila Neuville turning the 783-square-foot storefront into a coffee bar and a small market stocked with everyday staples and rotating prepared foods. For many locals, the address is still better known as Mr. Woo’s, a neighborhood fixture remembered decades later.
New owners pledge a local-first market
Philip and Kaila Neuville bought the property in 2024 and have described the project as a community-focused revival meant to keep the shop affordable and familiar, as reported by Yo! Venice. They told the site they brought neighbors into the process during the buildout and planned to introduce coffee, matcha, and soft-serve ice cream while preserving the staples longtime customers expect. That outreach included pop-up events to introduce vendor partners before the full opening.
Hours, permits, and neighborhood input
According to the shop’s website, Bodega & Palms is limited by a conditional-use permit to 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and the owners ran a suggestion box during a nearly two-year buildout to gather feedback, per Bodega & Palms. The owners say they will stock everyday essentials like bread and milk alongside prepared items, a small selection of beer and wine, and a simplified pricing approach with no tipping. The website also notes the team used pop-ups to test menu items and build relationships with local vendors before the full launch.
Vendors, menu, and the building’s history
When it opens on Wednesday, the counter will rotate prepared foods from local vendors including Fiorelli Pizza, Jyan Isaac Bread, Häsi Bread, Kokomoo and Leora, and the beverage list will feature hot- and cold-drip coffee, matcha and Kokomoo coconut milk, as reported by Eater LA. The building first opened as a convenience store in 1935 and later operated under names such as Jack’s, Gilbert’s and Mitchell’s; many longtime customers still call it Mr. Woo’s after the proprietor who died in 2024. Eater LA also notes the space is roughly 783 square feet and that an early pop-up sold out in about an hour, a sign of strong neighborhood interest.
"I wanted to cater it to locals," Philip told Eater LA, a line the Neuvilles say guided vendor selection and pricing. The tiny market’s mix of staples and chef-driven pop-ups will be a test of whether a community-minded bodega model can sustain daily foot traffic on the westside. Expect a long line on opening morning and a rotating roster of vendors in the weeks that follow.
