Bodega, the bar at 1044 N. High St. in the Short North, has been purchased by the family behind Cilantro Latin Fusion, with plans to blend the two businesses into a new small-plates and bar concept. The sale to Hector Muñoz and his family was finalized Sept. 5, after a Cilantro pop-up began at Bodega in May. Muñoz said the bar will continue serving draft beer, while its food menu will draw on Cilantro’s offerings in a smaller format focused on tapas and shareable plates. A remodel is expected to take about four to six weeks and include a new bar top, chairs, tables, paint and logo. Muñoz said work could begin within a week or two of the Sept. 29 announcement and would be done during off-hours so regular business can continue. Bodega is operating as usual for now. “The essence of Bodega will stay the same,” Muñoz said. He said his family had been looking for a Short North location and hopes to use the new venue to test a concept that could potentially expand. The Muñoz family opened Cilantro Latin Fusion in 2023 at 4852 Sawmill Road and recently opened Valencia Latin Bakery at Polaris. Bodega was founded in 2005 by Sangeeta Lakhani and Collin Castore, who sold the business to Brian Swanson in 2015. Swanson approached Muñoz earlier this year about the pop-up, then offered to sell the bar a few months later. Bodega’s listed hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Wednesday and Thursday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.