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BODEGA BEHAVIOR:

The bodega is a familiar neighborhood spot for many New Yorkers. It’s where we get out our baconeggandcheeses and lottery tickets in the morning, our snacks in the afternoon, and beer and chopped cheeses in the evening. These encounters are so much a part of quotidian life in New York City, but we don't often stop to think about the role they play in our lives beyond the momentary interactions at the register.

This narrative podcast episode takes us from the early morning to late night at Gourmet Deli in West Harlem — I talk with employees and customers, and through the day, we unpack the complicated dynamics that bodegas navigate, as both an enforcer of community safety and agent of security.