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SECTION 02 · FIELD GUIDE

Information

Bodega Facts

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BY THE NUMBERS+

There are roughly 13,000 bodegas in NYC.

ETYMOLOGY+

The word 'bodega' comes from Spanish for 'wine cellar.'

OPERATIONS+

Most bodegas are open 24 hours.

HISTORY+

The Bodega Association of the United States was founded in NYC in 1976.

DENSITY+

A good bodega stocks over 3,000 SKUs in under 400 sq ft.

CULTURE+

The bacon egg and cheese is NYC's most democratic food.

COMMUNITY+

Bodegas serve as informal community hubs and de facto post offices.

LEGAL+

NYC Health Code technically allows cats in food stores as pest control.

Bodega Cat Facts

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ICONIC+

Bodega cats are a protected cultural institution.

NOMENCLATURE+

Most bodega cats are named after food.

ECONOMICS+

A cat's presence increases repeat customer visits by an estimated 15–20%.

CELEBRITY+

The most famous bodega cat is Gizmo of the Village Deli, who had a Twitter following of 47,000.

ORIGINS+

Bodega cats are almost always rescues.

BEHAVIOR+

The counter is sacred territory.

SOCIAL+

Bodega cats have their own Instagram accounts in 34% of documented cases.

PHILOSOPHY+

A bodega without a cat is called 'just a convenience store.'

BODEGA CAT HUNTER · NYC · ALL BOROUGHS

Always be respectful of the cat and the bodega owner.
Don't block the register. Buy something.