North Hollywood's Refill Bodega offers eco-friendly, plastic-free alternatives for everyday items, creating a community-focused refill shop experience.
North Hollywood's Eco-Friendly Corner Shop
Roxi, Chyla, and Anahi didn't set out to reinvent the refill store. They just wanted one they could drive to without leaving the Valley.
All three grew up here. Valley girls through and through.
When they started making eco-friendly swaps at home, they hit the same wall: the nearest refill stores were far away and walking in felt like a chore.
So they decided to build their own.
Visit Refill Bodega’s website →
What You'll Find at Refill Bodega
Everyday stuff, minus the plastic:
- Cleaning supplies
- Personal care
- Bathroom basics
- Kitchen items
- Household goods
If you use it daily, they probably have a plastic-free version.
How It Started
Roxi and Anahi have been friends since high school. One day they were talking about eco-products: what works, what doesn't, where to find things. Anahi said she wished there was a refill store closer to home.
A few months later, Roxi and Chyla (who are married) called Anahi: what if the three of them opened one?
Anahi texted back the next day: "Let's do it."
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Testing the Concept
They started with pop-ups at farmers markets and vendor fairs in 2024. First one was Halloween in October.
Every time they set up, people asked: "Where's your store?"
Why North Hollywood?
After several pop-ups, they could see where things worked. Where the flow felt right. Where they'd actually make it as a business.
North Hollywood sits between Burbank, Studio City, and Toluca Lake. Lots of foot traffic, not many eco-friendly options, and it's home.
"I want to create something wonderful for home and for the other people that live around here," Roxi says.
Making Refills Less Overwhelming
Most refill stores hand you a project: figure out the pump bottles, measure it yourself, try not to make a mess.
The Refill Bodega does it differently.
Picture a New York bodega: grab what you need, counter in the back. Instead of sandwiches, they have refills. You bring bottles (or buy them there), they fill them while you shop.
Shampoo, dish soap, hand soap, body wash, laundry detergent: done at the counter. No mess, no stress.
Beyond Beige
Refill Bodega's branding is vibrant and fun. Sustainability doesn't have to look like a health food store from 1997.
"The world of eco-friendly sustainability is really, really beige," Chyla says. "Everything is green and tan or green and white. We wanted to be the color."
More Than a Store
The three of them talk about creating a "third space": not home, not work, just somewhere to be.
They're planning workshops on composting, what's actually recyclable, eco-friendly gift wrapping. The kind of stuff that makes a shop feel like it belongs to the neighborhood.
"The sustainable factor is the icing on top," Anahi says. "The community is what it really is."