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
. Bodegas are often open late hours and typically have ethnic market influences
. They are most famously located on New York's street corners and associated with immigrant communities such as the Puerto Rican community and the Dominican community
. The NYC Department of Health defines a bodega as any store of sufficient size "that sells milk, meat or eggs but is not a specialty store (bakery, butcher, chocolate shop, etc) and doesn't have more than two cash registers"
. Bodegas are neighborhood landmarks and serve as community hubs where people gather, chat, and form personal connections
. They are also known for their convivial culture and colorful character
