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.

Manhattan Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Upper West Side

726 Amsterdam Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Fort George

75 Wadsworth Terrace

$1,540 No Fee

1 |

1

Washington Heights

105 Haven Avenue

$2,450 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

2415 Second Avenue

$1,825 No Fee

1 |

1

Lower East Side

279 East Houston Street

$2,950 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

168 East 100th Street

$2,900 No Fee

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

211 West 146th Street

$1,795 No Fee

Studio |

1

Yorkville

520 East 81st Street

$3,000 No Fee

Studio |

1

Fort George

26 Sherman Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Hamilton Heights

478 West 145th Street

$2,600 No Fee

2 |

1

West Village

205 West 13th Street

$2,995 No Fee

Studio |

1

Yorkville

211 East 88th Street

$2,895 No 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. 

Brooklyn Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Canarsie

965 East 83rd Street

$2,999 No Fee

2 |

1

Ocean Hill

542 Chauncey Street

$2,720 No Fee

2 |

1

Sheepshead Bay

2563 East 18th Street

$2,699 No Fee

3 |

1.5

Bushwick

27 Cooper Street

$2,695 No Fee

3 |

1

Canarsie

9823 Seaview Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

2 |

1

Greenwood

168 21st Street

$2,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

158 Jefferson Avenue

$2,549 No Fee

1 |

1

Midwood

1022 East 36th Street

$2,000 No Fee

1 |

1

Homecrest

1804 East 18th Street

$2,900 No Fee

3 |

1

East Flatbush

824 East New York Avenue

$2,675 No Fee

1 |

1

Dyker Heights

139 Battery Avenue

$2,995 No Fee

2 |

1

Kensington

706 Ocean Parkway

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

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.

Queens Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Oakland Gardens

221-02 67th Avenue

$2,750 No Fee

2 |

1

Jamaica

152-09 88th Avenue

$2,650 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica

152-09 88th Avenue

$2,050 No Fee

Studio |

1

Jamaica

148-15 89th Avenue

$2,925 No Fee

2 |

2

Rego Park

63-68 Austin Street

$2,650 No Fee

1 |

1

Kew Gardens

84-47 Abingdon Road

$2,700 No Fee

3 |

1

Sunnyside

41-25 44th Street

$2,095 No Fee

Studio |

1

Clearview

15-20 202nd Street

$2,695 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

25-40 31st Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

25-90 36th Street

$2,100 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

43-10 25th Avenue

$2,300 No Fee

2 |

1

Woodside

46-10 70th Street

$2,118 No 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.

Bronx Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasy Article continues below

Baychester

2932 Gunther Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

3 |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,315 No Fee

1 |

1

Spuyten Duyvil

500 Kappock Street

$2,013 No Fee

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

40 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,989 No Fee

2 |

2

Mott Haven

40 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,981 No Fee

2 |

2

Mott Haven

40 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,254 No Fee

Studio |

1

Mott Haven

40 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,404 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

40 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,519 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

135 Alexander Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

1 |

1

Schuylerville

1305 Balcom Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

Studio |

1

Soundview

1210 Croes Avenue

$1,650 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

224 East 135th Street

$2,541 No 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.