Bodega

A bodega is a term with multiple meanings in Spanish and in English usage. In many Spanish-speaking countries, it denotes a shop that sells groceries and everyday household items, or a wine shop. In Spain, for example, a bodega can be a wine bar or a small wine shop; in Latin America it can refer to a neighborhood store or pantry. In the United States, especially in New York City, the word has come to describe a small, usually family-run corner grocery store that serves as a local convenience store and community hub, often open long hours and offering groceries, beverages, tobacco, newspapers, and ready-to-eat foods.

Etymology and regional variation: The word derives from Spanish bodega meaning storeroom, warehouse, or wine cellar. In Spanish-speaking regions it covers both the storage sense and the retail sense; in English usage the meaning has become more specifically a small neighborhood grocery store in urban areas.

Economy and culture: Bodegas in urban settings function as micro-businesses integral to immigrant entrepreneurship and neighborhood economies. They may provide social spaces, aid with credit or bill payment, and stock culturally relevant products. They often compete with supermarkets and grocery chains, and are subject to local licensing and health regulations.

Wine industry sense: Outside retail, bodega also denotes a wine cellar or winery, especially in Spain and Latin American wine regions, where grapes are stored, aged, or produced. The dual usage can lead to ambiguity without context.