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
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Greenwich Village
12 Fifth Avenue
$2,700No Fee
Studio |
1
Carnegie Hill
1654 Third Avenue
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
South Harlem
241 Central Park North
$2,650No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
65 Rivington Street
$2,995No Fee
2 |
1
Yorkville
449 East 84th Street
$2,600No Fee
1 |
1
Hamilton Heights
367 Edgecomb Avenue
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
Hamilton Heights
367 Edgecomb Avenue
$2,200No Fee
1 |
1
South Harlem
1465 Fifth Avenue
$2,050No Fee
Studio |
1
Carnegie Hill
121 East 97th Street
$2,040No Fee
Studio |
1
Turtle Bay
307 East 44th Street
$2,800No Fee
Studio |
1
Turtle Bay
310 East 44th Street
$2,900No Fee
Studio |
1
East Harlem
330 East 119th Street
$2,769No Fee
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.
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Bushwick
123 Melrose Street
$2,683No Fee
Studio |
1
Brownsville
507 Thatford Avenue
$2,500No Fee
4 |
1
East Flatbush
995 East 52nd Street
$2,900No Fee
3 |
2
Dyker Heights
627 90th Street
$2,300No Fee
2 |
1
Crown Heights
560 Prospect Place
$2,899No Fee
1 |
1
Bedford-Stuyvesant
19 Jefferson Avenue
$2,900No Fee
2 |
1
Flatbush
1640 Nostrand Avenue
$2,750No Fee
2 |
1.5
Fort Greene
15 Greene Avenue
$2,950No Fee
1 |
1
Brighton Beach
363 Neptune Avenue
$2,750No Fee
2 |
2
Flatbush
1640 Nostrand Avenue
$2,400No Fee
1 |
1
Crown Heights
698 Eastern Parkway
$2,400No Fee
1 |
1
Flatbush
179 Martense Street
$2,400No Fee
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.
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Far Rockaway
31-10 Lewmay Road
$2,200No Fee
2 |
1
Forest Hills
71-11 110th Street
$2,075No Fee
1 |
1
Forest Hills
103-25 68th Avenue
$2,250No Fee
1 |
1
Kew Gardens
83-15 116th Street
$1,900No Fee
1 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
21-12 29th Street
$2,400No Fee
1 |
1
Ridgewood
59-20 67th Avenue
$2,400No Fee
2 |
1
Forest Hills
99-21 67 Road
$1,850No Fee
Studio |
1
Whitestone
18-37 Clintonville Street
$2,300No Fee
2 |
1
Sunnyside
41-07 42nd Street
$2,700No Fee
2 |
1
Forest Hills
109-05 Queens Boulevard
$2,500No Fee
1 |
1
Murray Hill (Queens)
35-19 147th Street
$1,950No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
21-22 30 Drive
$2,631No Fee
1 |
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.
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Fordham
2350 Creston Avenue
$1,900No Fee
1 |
1
Wakefield
4303 Baychester Avenue
$1,315No Fee
Studio |
1
Crotona Park East
1390 Prospect Avenue
$2,099No Fee
2 |
1
Norwood
253 East 206th Street
$1,700No Fee
1 |
1
Fieldston
210 West 251st Street
$2,700No Fee
2 |
1.5
Highbridge
1327 Merriam Avenue
$1,498No Fee
2 |
1
Mott Haven
350 East 134th Street
$1,400No Fee
Studio |
1
Mott Haven
304 East 134th Street
$3,000No Fee
2 |
1.5
Mott Haven
224 East 135th Street
$2,542No Fee
1 |
1
Concourse
215 East 164th Street
$2,678No Fee
2 |
1
Wakefield
752 East 227th Street
$1,700No Fee
Studio |
1
North New York
133 Brown Place
$2,175No 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.