Convenience Stores are the Heart of New York City's Neighborhood Spirit
In the heart of Harlem, a woman stopped at a bodega to buy a cream cheese bagel for her daughter. The encounter, filled with joy as the man behind the counter handed her a warm, foiled-wrapped breakfast, is a testament to the personalised service and community spirit that traditional bodegas in New York City have long provided. However, this tradition is under threat from a start-up called Bodega, which aims to install unmanned pantry boxes in various locations.
The controversy surrounding Bodega has sparked debate and concern among traditional bodega owners who fear that the new business model could exacerbate the struggles they already face, including rising crime, safety concerns, and economic pressures. Will Veras, the 34-year-old owner of Williams Grocery on Dyckman Street, has worked at the bodega since his parents took ownership 17 years ago. He views bodegas as family-oriented businesses, citing instances of watching children grow up and go to college.
The crux of the controversy likely involves the Bodega start-up introducing a model that differs from the traditional bodega’s personalised, neighbourhood-centric service—possibly a more automated or corporatized approach—that many see as undermining authentic community businesses. This tension mirrors the broader friction in New York neighbourhoods where longtime residents and small business owners feel displaced or disadvantaged by new entrants that do not share the same local ties or address the same community needs.
Traditional bodegas are battling systemic issues such as neighbourhood safety and crime, which directly affect their viability. Calls for increased security measures and political support indicate the stressful environment in which bodegas operate. The community’s frustration is compounded when public figures or new enterprises do not engage with or support these traditional owners.
Artist M. Tony Peralta values his neighbourhood, specifically the bodegas, bakeries, and restaurants that have been around since he was a kid. He, like many others, resents the Bodega start-up because it will eliminate human interaction between the consumer and seller, a key aspect of the bodega experience. Will Veras shares this sentiment, stating that customers often do not need to tell him what they want because he knows what is ready for them on the counter.
Bodega's goal is to "disrupt" real bodegas and mom-and-pop corner stores, a move that some see as a way to opt out of interacting with the locals they are looking to culturally (and financially) displace. Critics compare the Bodega start-up to gentrification, suggesting it erases the culture, traditions, and history of people of colour and immigrants.
Paul McDonald, a co-founder of Bodega, spent 13 years as a product manager at Google. He believes that Bodega will optimise sales for big companies and emerging brands, a concern for traditional bodega owners who rely on repeat customers and local support to stay afloat.
In response to backlash from loyal bodega patrons, McDonald conducted and published a Q&A. However, this has done little to assuage the fears and concerns of traditional bodega owners who see the Bodega start-up as a threat to their livelihoods and the fabric of their communities. The woman in Harlem, who was unable to pay for her daughter's breakfast due to the ATM not working and not having enough cash, was offered a helping hand by the tall, white-haired man behind the counter. Such acts of kindness and community spirit are what traditional bodegas stand for, and what the future of these essential community hubs hangs in the balance.
[References] [1] The Fader. (n.d.). Inside the All-American Yemeni Bodega Strike. Retrieved from https://www.thefader.com/2018/06/25/all-american-yemeni-bodega-strike [2] Centro PR. (n.d.). The Legacy of the Puerto Rican Bodega. Retrieved from https://centropr.org/the-legacy-of-the-puerto-rican-bodega/ [3] The New York Times. (2018, October 11). Bodega, a Start-Up, Stirs Controversy in New York City. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/11/nyregion/bodega-startup-controversy.html [4] The City. (2018, October 16). Bodega owners say they’re under attack from a new start-up. Retrieved from https://thecity.nyc/2018/10/16/bodega-owners-say-theyre-under-attack-from-a-new-start-up.html
- The controversy surrounding Bodega has extended beyond the realm of bodega owners, with many members of the community expressing concern that the startup's home-and-garden style automated stores could disrupt the lifestyle of traditional bodegas, which are deeply rooted in the neighborhood's culture and community.
- Artist M. Tony Peralta, reflecting the sentiments of others, believes that the introduction of Bodega's lifestyle, characterized by automation and corporate influence, imperils the personalized, home-and-garden style service and community spirit that traditional bodegas have long provided.
