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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East Village

170 East 3rd Street

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Lenox Hill

528 East 79th Street

$2,995 No Fee

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West Village

29 Jones Street

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Lenox Hill

423 East 64th Street

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Little Italy

124 Mott Street

$2,060 No Fee

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1

East Harlem

159 East 99th Street

$2,150 No Fee

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1

Fort George

569 West 182nd Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Manhattanville

3333E Broadway

$2,495 No Fee

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1

East Harlem

309 East 104th Street

$2,250 No Fee

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1

Lower East Side

79 Rivington Street

$2,967 No Fee

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1

Murray Hill

320 East 42nd Street

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Yorkville

432 East 89th Street

$2,795 No Fee

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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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Williamsburg

91 Ainslie Street

$2,100 No Fee

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Bay Ridge

7520 Ridge Boulevard

$2,500 No Fee

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Fort Hamilton

9508 Fourth Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Weeksville

87 Utica Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

3 |

1

Bushwick

1282 Decatur Street

$2,800 No Fee

3 |

1

Bushwick

1154 Gates Avenue

$2,650 No Fee

2 |

1

Flatbush

2584 Bedford Avenue

$2,691 No Fee

2 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

582 Mac Donough Street

$2,200 No Fee

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1

Williamsburg

101 Varet Street

$2,977 No Fee

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1

Fort Hamilton

9506 Fourth Avenue

$1,800 No Fee

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1

Crown Heights

519 Eastern Parkway

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

179 Putnam Avenue

$2,200 No Fee

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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

152-11 89th Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

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Jamaica

152-11 89th Avenue

$2,050 No Fee

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1

Astoria

2-24 26th Avenue

$2,599 No Fee

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1

Astoria

2-24 26th Avenue

$2,995 No Fee

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Astoria

25-21 23rd Street

$2,600 No Fee

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Rego Park

65-20 Booth Street

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Far Rockaway

11-27 Nameoke Street

$1,699 No Fee

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Far Rockaway

11-27 Nameoke Street

$2,699 No Fee

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1

Fresh Meadows

75-66 197th Street

$2,900 No Fee

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Astoria

26-31 3rd Street

$2,600 No Fee

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Astoria

25-54 32nd Street

$3,000 No Fee

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Elmhurst

41-96 Gleane Street

$2,650 No Fee

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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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Woodstock

854 Beck Street

$2,950 No Fee

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Concourse

1515 Grand Concourse

$1,795 No Fee

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Kingsbridge Heights

3333 Giles Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

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Mt. Hope

1770 Grand Concourse

$1,958 No Fee

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1

Morris Park

1144 Lydig Avenue

$2,900 No Fee

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1

Westchester Square

2507 Tratman Avenue

$1,650 No Fee

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North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,769 No Fee

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North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,692 No Fee

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North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,558 No Fee

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North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,405 No Fee

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1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,405 No Fee

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1

North New York

138 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,538 No Fee

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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.