Bodega (store)

In New York City, a bodega is a small owner-operated convenience store. Its name is derived from the Spanish word for "storeroom" or "wine cellar". Usually located on New York's street corners, they are renowned for their convivial culture and colorful character. There are an estimated 13,000 bodegas across the city.

Bodegas were originally popularized in the mid-twentieth century by Puerto Ricans. Although they were initially documented in the 1930s, the first bodega may have opened even earlier.