Big Up to the Bodegas
I just wanted to spend a little time praising the retail heroes of the neighborhood, the bodegas. They have been here through the good times and the bad and hopefully they will remain a fixture of the community. While I know there are some that want more chain stores in the neighborhood, a Walgreens or CVS can never replace the role the bodega plays in the community. I try to give all the bodegas near me as much business as possible. Here are my favorites… Feel free to comment on yours.
Ralph’s
The (old) banner of my blog is (was) my homage to this truly old school classic. Ralph knows EVERYONE and EVERYTHING in and about the neighborhood. He is an institution unto himself. He’s almost legendary. While he stocks everything you need for a quick meal or snack he also makes a great sandwich. Ralph has followed the neighborhood’s demographic trends by stocking more organic food and higher end microbrews. In addition he has unknown superhero powers. He recently foiled a burglary in the nearby laundry.
Fort Greene Food Market
This is an old school latin bodega and the nearest to my spot. While the staff may not be as personable as Ralph, (although that is most likely specific to me and due to mediocre/bad spanish) they are very nice, the store has a broader selection of items and has many latin specialties not available at other stores. They also have a great beer selection as well as frozen dinners. Due to their proximity to JHS 113 (Edmonds Learning Center), they also have a fantastic candy selection. Boston Baked Beans, Lemonheads, etc. The one drawback, they close around 9 p.m.
Lafayette Grocery
I really only buy beer here because they have a great selection and allow you to mix and match from 20-25 different types of beer. They have high end Belgian ales like Leffe and Delirium Tremens, local microbrews as well as the standard Bud tallboys. The guys behind the counter are great and are more than willing to give you a little credit once they know you. With it’s classic style, the storefront itself gets alot of attention. You’ll see it in variety of movies and shows if you keep your eyes open.
Honorable Mentions
Greene Farm
Best produce and flowers in the neighborhood. They also own Fresh Garden on Fulton which is basically a larger version of the bodega (but OPEN 24 HOURS!). It’s a little overpriced relative to the options above but I still support the store.
The owners, Bruce & Kay Lee are neighborhood mini moguls. They have been in FG since 1990 and also own One Greene Sushi and Mirai Wellness Spa as well as various real estate holdings. Kay is kinda milfy too, but dont’ tell Bruce. If you look above the register you’ll see he has a black belt in Taekwondo.
Heaven Mini-Mart
It’s not that close to me so I’ve only been in this place once but I love the name, the graffiti and the awning.
It’s very funny I read this post tonight because I just went to Fresh Garden earlier for the first time and I was amazed at how friendly the cashier was (he’s a mogul, of course he’s ecstatic!), and also got a chuckle about how if you buy $100 there you will get a $10 gift certificate to either the spa or to the sushi place…. now I know why! funny!
I remember when Greene Farm first opened, way back when. It was so nice to have a place in the neighborhood that wasn’t kinda “iffy”. And, yes the owner is SO nice. Even though I moved from Ft. Greene in 1995, he still remembers me on the rare occasions that I stop in.
Me too — I moved to Fort Greene in 1991 and moved away in 1999; I ran into Kay at a totally unrelated event in Manhattan, and had no idea who she was but she remembered ME — this after I hadn’t seen her in 8 years!
And it’s not a bodega, but I’d like to nominate Jesse’s House of Style as a national landmark!