Why do inner city residents in New York City shop at Bodegas or Convenience Stores?
LANGUAGE If you are more comfortable speaking and reading Spanish (or any other applicable language for other ethnic neighborhoods, though the stores won’t be called bodegas), then it makes sense for you to go to a store owned and operated by Spanish-speakers. CONVENIENCE These kinds of stores are closer to home in the ethnic neighborhood. They’re not called “convenience stores” for nothing. There’s no expense for taking a bus, subway, or taxicab. This also makes a shorter distance to haul the heavy grocery bags home, important to someone who’s elderly, has small children with them, or is chronically ill. ITEMS OFFERED If your family traditionally cooks with certain kinds of food and manufacturers brands that supermarkets don’t carry, then using a neighborhood store that does will make sense to you. ACCEPTANCE Do you think mainstream supermarkets ALWAYS treat their ethnic customers with the same level of customer service and respect that they do their more-thoroughly integrated custome
