Stop Over Boston: “The City Is Bursting with Creativity.”

Oliver Mak loves to simply stroll through his hometown of Boston. What is it that he particularly enjoys? Discovering different “stylistic vignettes,” as he puts it, everywhere he goes. “Boston is one of the oldest cities in the U.S.,” says Mak. “Compared to the rest of the world, it’s still young, but the city has a l​ong history that’s reflected in the ​architecture and the energy of each neighborhood.”

In Beacon Hill and Downtown, these vignettes include the historic Federal-style brick buildings. In Fenway, Mak likes the Verb Hotel, which has a 60s vibe, and Hojoko, a Japanese izakaya restaurant on the ground floor. Mak also appreciates the neighborhood’s blend of old and new. “There you’ll find turn-of-the-century buildings, modern skyscrapers, and ​Fenway Park – the baseball stadium where the Boston Red Sox play – all right next to each other.”

At this point, Mak gets a little philosophical. “Boston is such a ​sports-crazy city,” he says. “And no sport is more American than baseball. At its core, it’s about one against many, about our individualism. And ultimately, it’s about the goal of coming home. A home run.”

It’s not exactly easy to sum up exactly what Mak does for a living. “Creative entrepreneur” probably describes it best. “I come from the Boston ​music scene of the early 90s,” he says. “Back then, the DIY principle was king. If something didn’t exist – a label or a radio station – you just did it yourself.” Mak has built quite an impressive career in Boston. He is an active ​DJ, has organized events for FADER magazine, is pursuing a radio project called Central On Air, and hosts the annual Boston Art Book Fair. For this fair, he collaborates with publishers, museums, and universities from around the world.

Mak’s true “claim to fame,” however, is Bodega, a sneaker and streetwear store he founded with partners in 2006. From the outside, the Boston boutique actually looked like an unassuming bodega – the kind of neighborhood store typically found in major cities on the U.S. East Coast. The store’s excellently curated fashion has made it world-famous.

Another factor that played a role: Elite local universities like ​Harvard and MIT have always attracted students from all over the world. These students told their friends back home about this brilliant little shop, providing a prime example of word-of-mouth marketing. “We created something that was accessible, iconic, and relevant. That’s why Bodega has taken us all over the world,” says Mak. Bodega has taken them to Design Week in ​Milan, to Fashion Week in ​Paris, to Los Angeles, where there is now a branch store, and to ​Tokyo, where a pop-up store thrilled Japanese streetwear enthusiasts in 2013/14.

“I love searching for things that are unique and can’t be mass-produced,” says Mak. That’s why he enjoys going on treasure hunts in ​vintage shops. Among his favorites is the secondhand shop Found on Central Square in Cambridge, but Mak also likes to browse for cool pieces at the flagship store of streetwear retailer CNCPTS on Newbury Street.

Despite his cosmopolitan outlook, Mak’s culinary recommendations for Boston are down-to-earth and very American: ​doughnuts, bagels, and pizza. However, finding the best of these seemingly simple things is an art form in itself. “Blackbird Doughnuts is great,” he says. “So is Union Square Donuts in Somerville.” The bagel with honey cream cheese at Bagelsaurus is incredible and well worth a visit, according to Mak, and the best pizza in town – maybe even on the entire East Coast – is at Santarpio’s in East Boston.

“For a great dinner, I recommend Row 34,” says Mak. The restaurant is famous for its seafood dishes and is mainly frequented by employees and guests from neighboring tech companies in the Seaport area. “Rumor has it that they sometimes serve Heady Topper beer from Vermont there – a specialty that’s hard to find anywhere else,” Mak says. “It’s best to just ask for it.”

Having lived in Boston for about 30 years, Mak has seen just how much the city has changed and continues to evolve. “I find what’s happening around Central Square in Cambridge particularly impressive,” Mak says. "Creativity is literally bubbling over there. There are lots of art galleries, and there’s a graffiti wall where everyone can express themselves. The community radio station I founded, Central On Air, is also located there.” All of this reminds Mak of when he first moved to the city. “When everyone wanted to create something, no matter their background.”

One of the most exciting galleries in the area is Street Theory Collective. “Two of the country’s most prolific ​street artists are behind it,” says Mak. “Rob Gibbs, whom I consider a mentor, and Marka27.” Mak sees a connection between street art and streetwear – the genre that made him famous – that goes beyond mere semantic similarity. “Both are global movements, vast networks connected by shared interests,” he says. “People who immerse themselves deeply in the subculture, develop their own vision, and want to express it are everywhere.” One of them is Oliver Mak from Boston.

Photos: Heather McGrath;  Producer: Nicola van der Mee

Entrepreneur, DJ, designer, streetwear aficionado, and co-founder of the cult store Bodega, the Boston Art Book Fair, and the radio station Central On Air. To call Oliver Mak “busy” would be a massive understatement. With his wide-ranging interests and projects, he enriches Boston’s creative scene – and gives back to the city where he has lived for nearly three decades.