Like pizza, yellow cabs and the Statue of Liberty, few things are as quintessentially New York as the bodega. The word “bodega” literally translates to “wine cellar” or “storeroom” in Spanish, but over time has evolved to mean a family-run general convenience store. In New York, they’re known for being open late (if not 24 hours) and often have a deli counter for sandwiches and hot food. (Important distinction: when New Yorkers say “deli” they can mean a bodega, but not every bodega has a deli, and not every deli is also a bodega.)
But how did these corner stores become ubiquitous in New York City? Like most of Lower Manhattan’s history, the answer can be traced back to immigration. In the 19th and 20th centuries, small shops like these were neighborhood staples in parts of Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. As Puerto Rican immigrants started arriving in the U.S. in the early-to-mid 1900s, so did more bodegas. Part grocery, part deli, part community hub, the bodega eventually became a place where these communities could find specific flavors and dry goods from back home, in addition to American pantry basics.
Today, bodegas are where New Yorkers go when they need a morning bacon egg and cheese, an energy drink during the night shift, extra toilet paper, a pack of ramen or one single Claritin. Some have fresh juice bars while others have a table or two where you can drink your coffee. They are also places to hear the neighborhood news, take shelter until the rain stops and offer pets to one of the feline employees. Bodegas are an important part of our community.
Lower Manhattan has nearly two dozen bodegas below Chambers Street. Here’s where you can stop in for nearly anything, anytime:
West Bank Gourmet Deli Battery Park (West and Morris streets)
Greenwich Grill and Juice Bar (Washington and Rector streets)
America’s Natural Food (Trinity Place and Rector Street)
NYC Convenience (Rector Street and Trinity Place)
Taste of Delicatessen (Rector and Greenwich streets)
Hanover Gourmet Deli (William and Beaver streets)
Bravo Cafe and Deli (William and Platt streets)
Seaport Deli (Fulton and Gold streets)
John’s Nourish & Nosh Deli (John and Cliff streets)
Plantega AM PM Deli (Peck Slip and Water Street)
Cortlandt Eatery (Cortlandt Way and Broadway)
Vineyard (Broadway and Barclay Street)
Elim Bistro (Broadway and Park Place)
Church Street Deli & Grill Juice Bar (Church Street and Park Place)
Battery Park Convenience (Battery Place and West Thames Street)
Cozy Food Cafe (Bridge and Whitehall streets)
Stone Street Deli (Coenties Alley and Pearl Street)
Best of New York Food (Water and Fletcher streets)
NYC Convenience Maiden Lane (Maiden Lane and Pearl Street)
D&J Grocery and Convenience Store (Nassau Street and Maiden Lane)
Gurias (Nassau and John streets)
District Bagel Co. (Nassau and John streets)
