Bodegas: Living the American Dream

Bodega is the Spanish word for a small neighborhood store, but in New York City, it’s a small store that plays a very large role in the community. Maria Hinojosa of NPR visits a few of the 10,000 family-run businesses that dot the city.

[Trnzoid]

These are the places that get robbed in just about every movie set in New York City or Chicago.

[AntiMessiah]

So a Bodega is basically a Mom & Pop Grocery store run by immigrants from Latin America & the Middle East.

[PabloCruise]

You know it's a bodega when you can't even see the inside of the store from outside.

[nothinghere]

There wouldn’t be a New York City without the bodegas

[Demonfireangel]

How do you run a news-segment about bodegas, but leave out the bodega cat?

[sir.fuentes]

Bodegas were begun by the first Puerto Ricans that arrived in NYC almost 100 years ago. At that early time, there weren't many, if any people who spoke Spanish, let alone somewhere where they could find their food staples, spices and ingredients. They opened food stores that catered only to them selling food products they consumed. They called these stores Bodega which is a Spanish word for Cellar because this was the place where their food was stored and sold to their communities. In the early to mid 70's most of these Bodegas were sold and bought by Dominicans who were then beginning to arrive en masse to NYC.

[truckmoney]

I don't get why this is so amazing....is the gap between the rich and poor that wide that the rich can't understand the existence of corner stores

[einsteindarwin]

I understand how Diana feels. My father did not want me to run our small business so now I do what the reporter does and it’s hard work too.

[JoieDeVivre]

God bless our bodegas we can’t survive without them

[believeinyourself]

These Bodegas are located in Food Deserts.

[julianathomas]

The dude who owns it looks like my Italian uncle lmao

[irisshalurhad]

I get the sentiment of the bodega and the familiar faces who run them in those communities, but it is basically a packed convenience store with fresh made food.

[seanlamont]

In Philly, we call it the Papi Store. 😁😁😁😁

[ginacleveland]

Yesss!!! Everytime I go back to visit family, I HAVE TO get a sandwich! And everytime, the owners are awesome!!🥰

[decnijfkris]

Impossible to do that in my country. You'll need a separate sanitary clean tiled room with fridges to keep your eggs at 8° degrees Celcius. You will need a chefs diploma to treat food. So basically all these bodegas we had in the past went broke or were closed down by our FDA for not complying with local and national rules. It is even hard to sell only cigarettes, gazettes and beverages. You can't do lottery. So, they all close.
In Belgium communist government is against capitalism of any kine unless the rulers get their fair share in profits. Nobody can open a small shop without the obligatory professional and administrative formation. Europe is a kafkaian dictocracy. Read Das Prozess by Kafka to get a taste. Some businesses are allowed to distribute freely Chinese smartphones worth 600 USD cuz they get refunded by the state and they compete in the same market with companies that have to sell their smartphones and don't get state money. All this my government does to maintain equality, good citizenship and fair trade. Thank you.

[Flecha]

Loved it. Welcome Maria Hinojosa. :))

[masterimbecile]

This sounds like establishments that'd be common in southern California, though I've never been in one. Must have been in a different part of town. I'll keep an eye out for one next time!

[bago]

In California Our Version of Bodegas are Corner stores or Liquor stores ANd are almost all owned by Arabs and sometimes Indians or Asians To be honest I never ever seen one owned by Latinos out here. Latinos mostly Own Mexican food or Latino Food product stores or Small Grocery stores in the West Coast.

[barbekyewsauce]

New York City gang know the vibe at a bodega

I walk into a bodega and it always feels sketchy. Also I dont live in a big city yet so so many bodegas.