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.
Table of Contents
Manhattan Rentals Under $3000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Gramercy Park
325 First Avenue
$2,995
1 |
1
Hudson Heights
825 West 187th Street
$2,995
1 |
1
Manhattan Valley
354 Cathedral Parkway
$2,950
1 |
1
Central Harlem
21 West 129th Street
$2,350
Studio |
1
Hell’s Kitchen
415 West 56th Street
$2,700
Studio |
1
Inwood
407 West 206th Street
$2,846
1 |
1
Inwood
407 West 206th Street
$2,871
1 |
1
Inwood
407 West 206th Street
$2,760
1 |
1
Yorkville
307 East 93rd Street
$2,683
Studio |
1
Hudson Heights
110 Bennett Avenue
$2,500
Studio |
2
Hell’s Kitchen
331 West 43rd Street
$2,800
Studio |
1
Inwood
405 West 206th Street
$2,863
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 StreetEasyArticle continues below
Stuyvesant Heights
459 Quincy Street
$3,000
1 |
1
Homecrest
2300 Ocean Avenue
$2,500
2 |
1
Midwood
1366 East 3rd Street
$1,799
1 |
1
Downtown Brooklyn
225 Schermerhorn Street
$2,929
Studio |
1
Bushwick
190 Saint Nicholas Avenue
$3,000
1 |
1
Prospect Lefferts Gardens
433 Rogers Avenue
$2,695
1 |
1
Weeksville
1500 Prospect Place
$2,000
1 |
1
Weeksville
1500 Prospect Place
$1,600
Studio |
1
Flatbush
1118 Rogers Avenue
$2,800
2 |
1
Crown Heights
802 Sterling Place
$2,454
Studio |
1
Williamsburg
228 Leonard Street
$2,950
Studio |
1
Stuyvesant Heights
811 Quincy Street
$2,030
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 StreetEasyArticle continues below
Jackson Heights
24-46 78th Street
$1,200
Studio |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
20-52 49th Street
$2,300
1 |
1
Astoria
25-88 34th Street
$2,607
1 |
1
Elmhurst
90-02 Queens Boulevard
$2,400
Studio |
1
Forest Hills
67-07 Yellowstone Boulevard
$2,920
2 |
1
Astoria
28-12 41st Street
$2,350
Studio |
1
Auburndale
202-10 43rd Avenue
$2,400
1 |
1
Astoria
34-28 Crescent Street
$2,900
2 |
1
Kew Gardens
122-04 Metropolitan Avenue
$2,400
2 |
1
Elmhurst
40-36 73rd Street
$2,600
Studio |
1
Astoria
30-85 31st Street
$2,585
Studio |
1
Sunnyside
43-25 47th Street
$2,850
2 |
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 StreetEasyArticle continues below
Spuyten Duyvil
3641 Johnson Avenue
$2,842
1 |
1
Mott Haven
40 Bruckner Boulevard
$2,346
1 |
1
North New York
555 East 137th Street
$2,917
3 |
1
Mott Haven
40 Bruckner Boulevard
$2,385
1 |
1
Mott Haven
40 Bruckner Boulevard
$2,415
1 |
1
Mott Haven
40 Bruckner Boulevard
$2,600
1 |
1
Mott Haven
310 Grand Concourse
$2,999
2 |
1
North New York
138 Bruckner Boulevard
$2,998
2 |
2
Mott Haven
310 Grand Concourse
$2,599
1 |
1
Mott Haven
310 Grand Concourse
$2,399
Studio |
1
North New York
420 East 148th Street
$2,295
2 |
1
North New York
138 Bruckner Boulevard
$2,631
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.