This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/nyregion/bodegas-coronavirus-nyc.html
The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 21 | Version 22 |
|---|---|
| Bodegas, Now More Than Ever | Bodegas, Now More Than Ever |
| (1 day later) | |
| When she touched down at La Guardia Airport in mid-March, Rabyaah Althaibani said she could feel the panic taking hold of New York. | When she touched down at La Guardia Airport in mid-March, Rabyaah Althaibani said she could feel the panic taking hold of New York. |
| Her iPhone pinged with work-from-home mandates and “something about flattening the curve.” The normally bustling N train was eerily empty. Then she saw the grocery store. | Her iPhone pinged with work-from-home mandates and “something about flattening the curve.” The normally bustling N train was eerily empty. Then she saw the grocery store. |
| “I’ve been through 9/11, I've been through Sandy. I know what panic is and I know what fear feels like,” Ms. Althaibani said. “But this was different.” | “I’ve been through 9/11, I've been through Sandy. I know what panic is and I know what fear feels like,” Ms. Althaibani said. “But this was different.” |
| She, like millions of other New Yorkers, searched for basics: cold medicine, hand sanitizer and toilet paper. But her normally robust neighborhood Key Food store had been gutted. “It was mayhem. I was lucky to get a bag of rice,” she said. | She, like millions of other New Yorkers, searched for basics: cold medicine, hand sanitizer and toilet paper. But her normally robust neighborhood Key Food store had been gutted. “It was mayhem. I was lucky to get a bag of rice,” she said. |
| So Ms. Althaibani turned to a trusted neighborhood gem. | So Ms. Althaibani turned to a trusted neighborhood gem. |
| “Those essentials I couldn’t find in the grocery store, they were right there at my bodega,” she said. | “Those essentials I couldn’t find in the grocery store, they were right there at my bodega,” she said. |
| As business in New York City ground to a halt — with clothing stores, nail salons, barber shops, museums, movie theaters, concert halls and nightclubs closed — bodegas, the small, scrappy 24-hour corner stores most often found in working-class neighborhoods, were open around the city. | As business in New York City ground to a halt — with clothing stores, nail salons, barber shops, museums, movie theaters, concert halls and nightclubs closed — bodegas, the small, scrappy 24-hour corner stores most often found in working-class neighborhoods, were open around the city. |
| And while supplies of necessary items are depleted in grocery stores and chain stores, many New Yorkers are finding bodega shelves fully stocked. | And while supplies of necessary items are depleted in grocery stores and chain stores, many New Yorkers are finding bodega shelves fully stocked. |
| “The bodega isn’t just where you get your egg and cheese sandwich and your coffee,” said City Councilman Justin Brannan, who lives in and represents the Bay Ridge neighborhood. “They become these places that come to represent stability in an otherwise unknown and unstable environment.” | “The bodega isn’t just where you get your egg and cheese sandwich and your coffee,” said City Councilman Justin Brannan, who lives in and represents the Bay Ridge neighborhood. “They become these places that come to represent stability in an otherwise unknown and unstable environment.” |
| It’s stability that Ms. Althaibani knows too well. Her son, Ahmed, has Type 1 diabetes. “When the supermarket closes at 9 and Ahmed’s sugar drops and he needs orange juice or something, it’s the bodega that I’ve had to turn to,” she said. | It’s stability that Ms. Althaibani knows too well. Her son, Ahmed, has Type 1 diabetes. “When the supermarket closes at 9 and Ahmed’s sugar drops and he needs orange juice or something, it’s the bodega that I’ve had to turn to,” she said. |
| More than just a store, bodegas are oftentimes extensions of the home for many of their customers, Mr. Brannan suggests. | More than just a store, bodegas are oftentimes extensions of the home for many of their customers, Mr. Brannan suggests. |
| “They provide more than your basic necessities,” Mr. Brannan said. “It’s the check-in moment behind your house. It can’t be underestimated, the value the bodega has in providing a sense of calm and a sense of relief to their communities in times like these.” | “They provide more than your basic necessities,” Mr. Brannan said. “It’s the check-in moment behind your house. It can’t be underestimated, the value the bodega has in providing a sense of calm and a sense of relief to their communities in times like these.” |
| Green Garden Deli on Malcolm X Boulevard fills that role for some shoppers in Harlem. | Green Garden Deli on Malcolm X Boulevard fills that role for some shoppers in Harlem. |
| Hand sanitizer was nowhere to be found at the CVS Pharmacy on 125th Street and Lenox Boulevard. A shopper in the Rite Aid on Frederick Douglass Boulevard couldn’t find any there, either. “I’ve been everywhere,” she said with a sigh. “Target, Amazon, CVS. No one’s got hand sanitizer.” | Hand sanitizer was nowhere to be found at the CVS Pharmacy on 125th Street and Lenox Boulevard. A shopper in the Rite Aid on Frederick Douglass Boulevard couldn’t find any there, either. “I’ve been everywhere,” she said with a sigh. “Target, Amazon, CVS. No one’s got hand sanitizer.” |
| But a few blocks away at Green Garden Deli, there was plenty. “But if you don’t shop here,” said Wadie Obeid, the owner of the bodega, “how would you know?” | But a few blocks away at Green Garden Deli, there was plenty. “But if you don’t shop here,” said Wadie Obeid, the owner of the bodega, “how would you know?” |
| Online, sellers were capitalizing on supply scarcity, selling rolls of toilet paper for $10 a piece and bottles of hand sanitizer for $60. But at the Green Garden Deli, Mr. Obeid pointed to a tub of Purell bottles selling for two dollars, his normal rate. | Online, sellers were capitalizing on supply scarcity, selling rolls of toilet paper for $10 a piece and bottles of hand sanitizer for $60. But at the Green Garden Deli, Mr. Obeid pointed to a tub of Purell bottles selling for two dollars, his normal rate. |
| Mr. Obeid said he had noticed a slight uptick in sanitizer purchases from his usual customers, but was unaware of the panic buying some stores were experiencing. | Mr. Obeid said he had noticed a slight uptick in sanitizer purchases from his usual customers, but was unaware of the panic buying some stores were experiencing. |
| Some New Yorkers have complained of bodega price gouging on social media. | Some New Yorkers have complained of bodega price gouging on social media. |
| A spokeswoman for the New York attorney general’s office said that more than 5,000 price gouging complaints have been filed in New York State in March alone, the “vast majority” coming from New York City. The complaints were not classified by store type. | A spokeswoman for the New York attorney general’s office said that more than 5,000 price gouging complaints have been filed in New York State in March alone, the “vast majority” coming from New York City. The complaints were not classified by store type. |
| When told about the price gouging of other suppliers, Mr. Obeid’s eyes grew wide with surprise. “As long as the wholesaler keeps the price, so will I,” he said. | When told about the price gouging of other suppliers, Mr. Obeid’s eyes grew wide with surprise. “As long as the wholesaler keeps the price, so will I,” he said. |
| Ms. Althaibani’s local bodega is the Parkway Deli & Grill Express in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The owner, Faisal Amari, is friends with her on Facebook. He knows just how to make the pastrami sandwich her son likes. | Ms. Althaibani’s local bodega is the Parkway Deli & Grill Express in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The owner, Faisal Amari, is friends with her on Facebook. He knows just how to make the pastrami sandwich her son likes. |
| As fears of contracting the coronavirus grew, Ms. Althaibani made the decision to send her young daughter, Salma, to Michigan as a health precaution. Ms. Althaibani said Mr. Amari noticed and inquired about the girl after not seeing her for a few days. | As fears of contracting the coronavirus grew, Ms. Althaibani made the decision to send her young daughter, Salma, to Michigan as a health precaution. Ms. Althaibani said Mr. Amari noticed and inquired about the girl after not seeing her for a few days. |
| Updated August 27, 2020 | |
| “These people aren’t just bodega workers,” Ms. Althaibani said. “They’re a part of our community. They are a critical part of our neighborhood.” | “These people aren’t just bodega workers,” Ms. Althaibani said. “They’re a part of our community. They are a critical part of our neighborhood.” |
| They are also considered essential workers and are putting themselves at risk. “They’re on the front lines,” Mr. Brannan said. | They are also considered essential workers and are putting themselves at risk. “They’re on the front lines,” Mr. Brannan said. |
| Mr. Amari, who estimates he has at least 100 customers each day, requires his workers to wear protective masks and gloves. “We know this virus is no joke,” he said. “We do the best we can.” | Mr. Amari, who estimates he has at least 100 customers each day, requires his workers to wear protective masks and gloves. “We know this virus is no joke,” he said. “We do the best we can.” |
| When asked if he was worried about contracting the virus and bringing it home to his family (a wife and four children ranging from 4 to 15 years old), Mr. Amari said he had a wider concern. | When asked if he was worried about contracting the virus and bringing it home to his family (a wife and four children ranging from 4 to 15 years old), Mr. Amari said he had a wider concern. |
| “I worry about my employees,” he said. “I worry about the workers and the people in my neighborhood. I kind of feel it is my job to support them.” | “I worry about my employees,” he said. “I worry about the workers and the people in my neighborhood. I kind of feel it is my job to support them.” |
| At Green Garden Deli in Harlem, Mr. Obeid had a similar mind-set. | At Green Garden Deli in Harlem, Mr. Obeid had a similar mind-set. |
| “I am here for the neighborhood. Whoever that is,” said Mr. Obeid. “We’re here to serve them, to help them out. That’s the bodega way.” | “I am here for the neighborhood. Whoever that is,” said Mr. Obeid. “We’re here to serve them, to help them out. That’s the bodega way.” |