New Yorkers have a special affection for what they call their bodega – a neighborhood convenience store and sandwich shop – and even more so for the person at the register: their bodega boy. These days in Brooklyn, that person is often a man from Yemen. Many residents were unaware of this until a thousand stores closed in 2017 to protest Donald Trump’s first travel ban against several Muslim-majority countries, including Yemen.

These businesses are often family-run and stay open from early morning until late at night, with several generations taking turns behind the counter. Each shop reflects the diverse and complex identity of the community, as every owner finds their place within the mosaic that makes up New York.

In that sense, New York’s bodegas are a testament to the American dream: a crossroads where owners spend most of their lives working, eating, sleeping, praying and dancing. And it is also where Zohran Mamdani, the city’s mayor since January 2026, made repeated visits during his election campaign, turning these stores into essential, emblematic places.

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