Bodegas might be a New York City phenomenon. These small grocery stores offer convenience to countless neighborhoods, and they share similarities that go beyond cereal offerings. So for all of the non-New Yorkers (and locals who still don’t quite understand), here we answer the question “What is a bodega?” once and for all.
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Manhattan Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Manhattan Valley
82 West 105th Street
$2,495No Fee
Studio |
1
Manhattan Valley
82 West 105th Street
$2,595No Fee
1 |
1
Washington Heights
535 West 162nd Street
$2,875No Fee
2 |
1
Manhattan Valley
82 West 105th Street
$2,395No Fee
Studio |
1
Lenox Hill
206 East 67th Street
$2,550No Fee
Studio |
1
Central Harlem
111 West 130th Street
$2,292No Fee
Studio |
1
Hamilton Heights
550 West 149th Street
$2,250No Fee
Studio |
1
Upper West Side
314 West 90th Street
$1,850No Fee
Studio |
1
Washington Heights
500 West 165th Street
$2,929No Fee
3 |
1
Yorkville
228 East 89th Street
$2,850No Fee
Studio |
1
East Village
58 East 1st Street
$2,895No Fee
1 |
1
Hamilton Heights
617 West 145th Street
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
The History of NYC Bodegas
The name bodega originates from the Spanish word — which can mean “storeroom,” “wine cellar,” or “grocery store.” The majority of them were opened by Latinx immigrants who came to New York after World War II and desired a local convenience store that they could run to daily. New Yorkers as a whole took to the idea, and these small shops multiplied.
What’s a Bodega?
A bodega is a small convenience store that sells staples like chips, candy, coffee, sodas, lottery tickets, and over-the-counter remedies, along with household items like laundry detergent and trash bags. Some have a deli counter, some sell beer, and some have neither, but what defines them goes beyond any one product.
Most are open 24/7, ensuring that you’ll always have access to ramen and detergent in even the direst situations (e.g., if you’re doing laundry while hungry in the middle of the night). They’re also ubiquitous, with more than 8,000 bodegas spread across New York’s five boroughs. The number isn’t 100% certain, because the health department only recognizes 7,104, but the number is probably much higher. Thanks to all those bodegas, if you need to pick up something after a night out, you can do so at 4 a.m. without leaving your neighborhood.
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Bay Ridge
7002 Ridge Boulevard
$1,975No Fee
1 |
1
Fort Hamilton
9102 Fourth Avenue
$2,300No Fee
2 |
1
Bay Ridge
7002 Ridge Boulevard
$1,999No Fee
1 |
1
Downtown Brooklyn
225 Adams Street
$2,800No Fee
Studio |
1
Fort Hamilton
526 86th Street
$1,950No Fee
1 |
1
Park Slope
572 Fifth Avenue
$2,623No Fee
1 |
1
Ditmas Park
605 East 16th Street
$2,250No Fee
1 |
1
Bay Ridge
7002 Ridge Boulevard
$2,000No Fee
1 |
1
Stuyvesant Heights
628 Hancock Street
$2,400No Fee
2 |
1
Stuyvesant Heights
863 Hancock Street
$2,649No Fee
2 |
1
Williamsburg
240 Ainslie Street
$3,000No Fee
1 |
1
Bay Ridge
271 67th Street
$2,300No Fee
1 |
1
What’s a Bodega Cat?
As all NYC locals know, many bodegas also have cats. Although some shoppers don’t appreciate their presence, bodega cats actually serve a larger good: exterminating rodents, whose presence (trust us) is less favorable than even the grouchiest feline.
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Jamaica
92-27 160th Street
$2,396No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
26-50 30th Street
$2,900No Fee
1 |
1.5
Jamaica
92-27 160th Street
$2,776No Fee
1 |
1
Woodside
44-43 64th Street
$3,000No Fee
3 |
2
Astoria
25-50 41st Street
$1,700No Fee
1 |
1
Middle Village
69-04 Penelope Avenue
$2,300No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria
25-33 33rd Street
$2,799No Fee
2 |
1
Woodside
52-22 Roosevelt Avenue
$2,999No Fee
1 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
22-26 36th Street
$2,750No Fee
2 |
1
Clearview
15-20 202nd Street
$2,600No Fee
1 |
1
Woodside
41-11 54th Street
$2,223No Fee
2 |
1
Ridgewood
60-17 Putnam Avenue
$1,500No Fee
Studio |
1
Can I Send Packages to My Local Bodega?
But perhaps the strangest concept for visitors to understand is that bodegas are neighborhood landmarks. Locals often know the owners and workers, and can sometimes count on these stores to accept packages and hold onto keys for visitors in lieu of a doorman. They’re open 24/7, and therefore very reliable. Many of these store owners are more than happy to help, and it’s common practice to pay a small thank-you fee for any not-strictly-bodega-related activity.
Other Things to Know About Bodegas
Many of them usually have a credit card minimum, so make sure to bring cash, or you’ll find yourself doubling up on ice cream and cookie dough — not a tragic outcome by any means, but good to remember. Also, you can’t assume that most of these shops stock beer, as some simply sell soft drinks and juices. Luckily, there’s usually another bodega right down the block with everything else you’re searching for. And if you’re new in town or need some help finding an electrician or handyman, think about looking to your local bodega team for advice. As mentioned above, they can often help with receiving packages, and their local knowledge can extend much further than you might expect.
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Fordham
2763 Morris Avenue
$2,900No Fee
2 |
1
Concourse
1165 Morris Avenue
$1,600No Fee
1 |
1
Soundview
1833 Westchester Avenue
$3,000No Fee
4 |
1
Pelham Gardens
1135 Pelham Parkway North
$2,749No Fee
2 |
2
Pelham Parkway
2160 Matthews Avenue
$2,612No Fee
2 |
1
Tremont
2191 Creston Avenue
$1,415No Fee
Studio |
1
Concourse
731 Gerard Avenue
$1,525No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
349 East 139th Street
$2,900No Fee
3 |
2.5
Morris Park
1614 Haight Avenue
$2,295No Fee
2 |
1
Mott Haven
40 Bruckner Boulevard
$2,542No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
40 Bruckner Boulevard
$2,936No Fee
1 |
1
Spuyten Duyvil
2600 Netherland Avenue
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
The Future of Bodegas
Although bodegas are an NYC staple, that doesn’t mean they’re thriving; in fact, the opposite is unfortunately true. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a slew of bodegas and other small businesses have closed. In the previous few years before the pandemic, many local stores have been forced to close due to rising rents and chain store competition. And in 2017, two ex-Google employees began a startup app, “Bodega,” which involved selling convenience store items from automated boxes. Many reacted angrily, criticizing the team for appropriating the bodega name and trying to put these mom-and-pop shops out of business. Even after rebranding to “Stockwell” in 2019, the brand went under in 2020. After all, locals love these shops; they’re a crucial part of the New York neighborhood landscape. And despite the hardships and competition facing them, they’re not going anywhere any time soon.