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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Greenwich Village

260 Sixth Avenue

$2,462 No Fee

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1

East Village

526 East 11th Street

$2,750 No Fee

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Fort George

9 Thayer Street

$2,150 No Fee

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Fort George

552 West 188th Street

$2,250 No Fee

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East Village

207 East 5th Street

$2,350 No Fee

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1

Kips Bay

229 East 29th Street

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Murray Hill

114 East 39th Street

$2,750 No Fee

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1

Chelsea

335 West 19th Street

$2,500 No Fee

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1

East Harlem

343 East 115th Street

$2,050 No Fee

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1

Yorkville

1848 Second Avenue

$2,150 No Fee

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Manhattan Valley

243 West 109th Street

$2,750 No Fee

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West Chelsea

299 Tenth Avenue

$2,700 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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Greenpoint

621 Manhattan Avenue

$2,850 No Fee

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1

Bedford-Stuyvesant

89 Halsey Street

$3,000 No Fee

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Prospect Heights

195 Underhill Avenue

$2,649 No Fee

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1

Stuyvesant Heights

643 Madison Street

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

1374 Bushwick Avenue

$2,700 No Fee

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1

Bensonhurst

1738 78th Street

$2,250 No Fee

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Ocean Hill

25 Somers Street

$2,885 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

1428 Putnam Avenue

$3,000 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

185 Schaefer Street

$3,000 No Fee

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1

Bushwick

340 Evergreen Avenue

$3,000 No Fee

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1

Bay Ridge

333 86th Street

$2,395 No Fee

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1

Fort Hamilton

8829 Fort Hamiltn Parkway

$2,500 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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Ditmars-Steinway

42-13 23rd Avenue

$2,595 No Fee

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Astoria

28-15 33rd Street

$2,375 No Fee

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Astoria

30-44 14th Street

$2,600 No Fee

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Jackson Heights

82-15 35th Avenue

$2,400 No Fee

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1

Astoria

34-46 Vernon Boulevard

$2,637 No Fee

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1

Ditmars-Steinway

20-31 Steinway Street

$2,600 No Fee

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1

Astoria

33-15 28th Avenue

$2,999 No Fee

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1

Jackson Heights

35-05 94th Street

$1,825 No Fee

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1

East Flushing

42-37 Union Street

$1,625 No Fee

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1

Astoria

30-29 38th Street

$2,895 No Fee

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Sunnyside

47-06 46th Street

$2,375 No Fee

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Astoria

24-18 42nd Street

$3,000 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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Mott Haven

The Arches

$2,686 No Fee

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Spuyten Duyvil

2728 Henry Hudson Parkway

$1,995 No Fee

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Spuyten Duyvil

2600 Netherland Avenue

$2,800 No Fee

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Parkchester

1847 Cross Bronx Expressway

$2,300 No Fee

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Bronxwood

3013 Barker Avenue

$2,450 No Fee

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Woodstock

952 East 156th Street

$2,800 No Fee

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Kingsbridge

3120 Corlear Avenue

$2,095 No Fee

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Riverdale

3824 Waldo Avenue

$2,650 No Fee

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1

Concourse

1368 Sheridan Avenue

$1,725 No Fee

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Castle Hill

2010 Bruckner Boulevard

$1,670 No Fee

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Morris Heights

2004 Davidson Avenue

$2,100 No Fee

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1

Morris Heights

2004 Davidson Avenue

$2,500 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.