Agápe 1928 Seeks to Reflect the Highest Level of Love

BY C. JAYDEN SMITH

The ancient Greek word agápe signifies a kind of profound love that people reserve for their close family members or spouses, apart from any romantic feelings.

In the sense of Christianity, the religion’s followers associate the word with the unconditional, sacrificial love God has for humanity.

It’s those kinds of sentiments that drove Eric Ange Bowman and Boog Rose, a local pastor, to open the San Clemente venue Agápe 1928 on El Camino Real. Rose said they intend to host “some of the biggest moments in people’s lives,” such as weddings, retirement events, birthdays and more.

“In general, it’s for the people,” Rose said. “It was good for us to put that name out there, Agápe, not just for everybody else but to remind ourselves why we’re doing this.”

Although the facility opened in June, the venue’s development was roughly four years in the making. Both Bowman and Rose are longtime San Clemente residents whose friendship grew as their kids played sports together.

Despite the potentially negative consequences of going into business with friends, Rose expressed his trust in Bowman because of Bowman’s consistent commitment to serving others and going