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

Lenox Hill

399 East 72nd Street

$2,995 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

554 West 50th Street

$2,276 No Fee

1 |

1

Central Harlem

252 West 149th Street

$2,225 No Fee

2 |

1

Upper East Side

166 East 82nd Street

$2,800 No Fee

1 |

1

Yorkville

401 East 89th Street

$2,475 No Fee

1 |

1

East Village

338 East 14th Street

$2,829 No Fee

1 |

1

South Harlem

115 West 117th Street

$2,500 No Fee

Studio |

1.5

Hamilton Heights

410 West 145th Street

$1,775 No Fee

Studio |

1

Hell’s Kitchen

537 West 49th Street

$2,300 No Fee

1 |

1

Yorkville

306 East 83rd Street

$2,200 No Fee

1 |

1

Upper West Side

148 West 80th Street

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

East Harlem

334 East 105th Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

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

Greenwood

643 Sixth Avenue

$1,995 No Fee

Studio |

1

Crown Heights

1836 Park Place

$2,650 No Fee

2 |

1

Flatbush

561 East 26th Street

$2,500 No Fee

2 |

1

Bushwick

287 Cornelia Street

$2,175 No Fee

1 |

1

Flatbush

1471 Nostrand Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Midwood

1792 Ocean Avenue

$2,429 No Fee

1 |

1

Midwood

1792 Ocean Avenue

$2,995 No Fee

2 |

2

Flatbush

286 Linden Boulevard

$2,495 No Fee

1 |

1

Stuyvesant Heights

321 Pulaski Street

$2,550 No Fee

2 |

1

Williamsburg

53 Graham Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

1 |

1

Prospect Heights

195 Underhill Avenue

$2,498 No Fee

Studio |

1

Crown Heights

2303A Pacific Street

$2,350 No Fee

2 |

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

Briarwood

142-10 Hoover Avenue

$1,750 No Fee

Studio |

1

Astoria

34-33 43rd Street

$2,600 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

25-37 43rd Street

$2,700 No Fee

2 |

1

Elmhurst

90-02 Queens Boulevard

$2,500 No Fee

1 |

1

Elmhurst

90-02 Queens Boulevard

$2,600 No Fee

1 |

1

Glendale

65-05 Central Avenue

$2,100 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

25-21 31st Avenue

$2,350 No Fee

1 |

1

Astoria

28-23 42nd Street

$1,812 No Fee

1 |

1

Sunnyside

45-56 42nd Street

$2,375 No Fee

1 |

1

Jamaica Estates

87-01 Midland Parkway

$1,675 No Fee

Studio |

1

Forest Hills

76-16 Grand Central Parkway

$2,800 No Fee

2 |

1

Astoria

34-50 28th Street

$1,487 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

North New York

466 East 143rd Street

$1,850 No Fee

1 |

1

North New York

417 East 135th Street

$2,275 No Fee

2 |

1

University Heights

30 West 181st Street

$2,375 No Fee

2 |

1

Norwood

3291 Hull Avenue

$1,700 No Fee

1 |

1

Morris Heights

54 West 174th Street

$1,895 No Fee

1 |

1

Kingsbridge Heights

2737 Webb Avenue

$1,595 No Fee

1 |

1

Woodstock

725 Southern Boulevard

$1,750 No Fee

1 |

1

Kingsbridge Heights

3344 Fort Independence Street

$2,200 No Fee

Studio |

1

Fieldston

6255 Broadway

$2,100 No Fee

1 |

1

Mott Haven

101 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,792 No Fee

2 |

2

Mott Haven

101 Bruckner Boulevard

$2,792 No Fee

2 |

2

Mott Haven

276 Grand Concourse

$2,537 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.