Bodegas are a New York City institution. These small corner grocery stores offer convenience and local charm to countless New Yorkers, 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), let’s answer the question “What is a bodega?” once and for all.

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Carnegie Hill

140 East 95th Street

$399,999

Studio |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

1240 Bedford Avenue

$650,000

2 |

1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

134 Quincy Street

$725,000

1 |

1

South Harlem

1330 Fifth Avenue

$699,000

1 |

1

Forest Hills

104-20 68 Drive

$769,000

3 |

2

Washington Heights

807 Riverside Drive

$465,000

1 |

1

Brighton Beach

40 Oceana Drive

$900,000

2 |

2

Canarsie

665 Varkens Hook Road

$649,999

3 |

3

Kips Bay

501 3rd Avenue

$999,000

Studio |

1

Bay Terrace (Queens)

17-85 215th Street

$340,000

1 |

1

Canarsie

1559 Remsen Avenue

$574,900

3 |

2

Yorkville

530 East 90th Street

$799,000

2 |

1

A brief 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 Hispanic immigrants who came to New York after WWII and desired a local convenience store they could visit 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 medicine, along with household items like laundry detergent and trash bags. Some have a deli counter (where you can grab another NYC staple: the bacon egg and cheese), some sell beer, but what defines them goes beyond any one product or service.

Many are open 24/7, ensuring that you’ll always have access to ramen and detergent in even the direst situations (e.g. you’re doing laundry while hungry in the middle of the night). Bodegas are also ubiquitous, with more than 13,000 of them spread across NYC’s five boroughs. The number isn’t 100% certain, because the definition is subjective and records are incomplete, but the number is probably much higher.

Thanks to bodegas, if you need to pick something up after a night out or buy toilet paper during a snowstorm, you can do so without leaving your neighborhood. 

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Stuyvesant Heights

372A Bainbridge Street

$2,995 base rent

1 |

1

Turtle Bay

303 East 46th Street

$2,400 base rent

Studio |

1

Briarwood

86-11 139th Street

$1,995 base rent

1 |

1

Yorkville

337 East 90th Street

$2,429 base rent

Studio |

1

Central Harlem

56 East 130th Street

$2,889 base rent

2 |

1

Hudson Heights

76 Pinehurst Avenue

$2,200 base rent

1 |

1

South Harlem

212 West 124th Street

$2,846 base rent

1 |

1

Central Harlem

56 East 130th Street

$2,533 base rent

1 |

1

Carnegie Hill

175 East 92nd Street

$2,950 base rent

1 |

1

Greenpoint

85 Commercial Street

$500 base rent

Studio |

1

Fort George

30 Dongan Place

$2,540 base rent

1 |

1

South Harlem

10 West 122nd Street

$2,857 base rent

1 |

1

What’s a bodega cat?

As New Yorkers know, many bodegas also have cats. Though some shoppers don’t appreciate their presence, bodega cats actually serve a greater good: exterminating rodents, whose presence (trust us) is less favorable than even the grouchiest feline.

Love them or hate them, bodega cats make NYC bodegas unique and are part of the charm. Each one is like a mascot for the store they inhabit. They’re a cultural staple for the city, and have inspired Instagram accounts like @bodegacatsofinstagram, a YouTube series, and even an SNL sketch. So, don’t be surprised if you encounter one relaxing and purring away as you grab some chips and a soda.

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Can I send packages to my local bodega?

Perhaps the strangest concept for visitors to understand is that bodegas are neighborhood landmarks. Locals often know the owners and employees, and can sometimes count on these stores to accept packages and hold onto keys for them in lieu of a doorman. Many bodega keepers are more than happy to help, and it’s common practice to pay a small thank-you tip for any not-strictly-bodega-related activity.

Other things to know about bodegas

Many of them have a credit card minimum, so be sure to bring cash, or you’ll find yourself doubling up on ice cream and cookies — not a tragic outcome by any means, but good to remember. Also, it’s hit or miss whether bodegas sell beer, and they’re only allowed to sell low-alcohol beverages. 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 for advice — their local knowledge can extend far further than you might expect.

Are bodegas unique to NYC?

There’s debate over bodegas being unique to New York City, or if they’re simply corner stores by another name. Bodega-like stores can certainly be found all over the country, and New York has never claimed a monopoly on them. Regardless, whether you think bodegas are truly one-of-a-kind or just the NYC version of a convenience mart, New Yorkers love them either way — and they’re here to stay.