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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Inwood
570 Isham Street
$1,800No Fee
Studio |
1
Yorkville
511 East 87th Street
$2,150No Fee
Studio |
1
Yorkville
1555 Second Avenue
$2,450No Fee
1 |
1
Washington Heights
522 West 161st Street
$2,795No Fee
3 |
1
Lenox Hill
1155 Third Avenue
$2,500No Fee
Studio |
1
Morningside Heights
45 Tiemann Place
$2,636No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
510 East Fifth Street
$2,870No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
221 Avenue A
$2,156No Fee
1 |
1
Washington Heights
643 West 171st Street
$2,933No Fee
3 |
1
Manhattan Valley
852 Amsterdam Avenue
$3,000No Fee
1 |
1
Manhattan Valley
852 Amsterdam Avenue
$3,000No Fee
1 |
1
Hamilton Heights
469 Convent Avenue
$2,695No Fee
Studio |
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.
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Weeksville
1322 Prospect Place
$2,795No Fee
2 |
1
Fort Greene
475 Clermont Avenue
$2,954No Fee
Studio |
1
Prospect Park South
162 East 19th Street
$1,722No Fee
Studio |
1
Crown Heights
1556 Atlantic Avenue
$2,400No Fee
2 |
1
Wingate
706 Lefferts Avenue
$2,100No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
740A Evergreen Avenue
$2,750No Fee
3 |
1
Bay Ridge
278 82nd Street
$1,750No Fee
1 |
1
Crown Heights
457 Park Place
$2,495No Fee
Studio |
1
Crown Heights
950 Nostrand Avenue
$2,635No Fee
1 |
1
Williamsburg
148 Skillman Avenue
$1,900No Fee
Studio |
1
Windsor Terrace
1661 Eleventh Avenue
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
Ditmas Park
1111 Foster Avenue
$2,955No Fee
1 |
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.
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Ditmars-Steinway
20-24 31st Street
$2,550No Fee
1 |
1
Elmhurst
88-08 Justice Avenue
$2,795No Fee
1 |
1
Hammels
214 Beach 92nd Street
$2,250No Fee
2 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
23-74 29th Street
$2,650No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria
30-40 21st Street
$2,720No Fee
1 |
1
Corona
104-12 49th Avenue
$2,600No Fee
2 |
1
Elmhurst
51-15 Van Kleeck Street
$2,100No Fee
1 |
1
Jackson Heights
25-21 71st Street
$2,600No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria
28-33 37th Street
$2,570No Fee
2 |
1
Jamaica
152-09 88th Avenue
$2,900No Fee
2 |
2
Sunnyside
43-07 39 Place
$2,200No Fee
1 |
1
Rego Park
64-48 Booth Street
$2,650No Fee
2 |
2
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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Bedford Park
2876 Jerome Avenue
$1,800No Fee
Studio |
1
Mt. Hope
1818 Clay Avenue
$1,895No Fee
1 |
1
Riverdale
3660 Waldo Avenue
$1,995No Fee
1 |
1
University Heights
2420 Davidson Avenue
$1,895No Fee
1 |
1
Fordham
2301 Creston Avenue
$1,895No Fee
1 |
1
Belmont
2319 Cambreleng Avenue
$1,800No Fee
2 |
1
Norwood
45 East Mosholu Parkway North
$2,670No Fee
2 |
1
University Heights
2165 Grand Avenue
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
University Heights
2165 Grand Avenue
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
North New York
417 East 135th Street
$2,595No Fee
2 |
1
Bedford Park
2851 Valentine Avenue
$2,050No Fee
1 |
1
Fordham
2719 Morris Avenue
$1,568No 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.