Do you Americans have minimarkets?
Posted by Fio_2008@reddit | AskAnAmerican | View on Reddit | 388 comments
I am Paraguayan and here in Paraguay There are small businesses that would be warehouses or pantries, little markets the size of a room. They function as small markets that only have the essentials for living, but the thing thing HERE is that they are not small markets that are within a franchise or chain of markets nor controlled by a mega corporation. They are usually family-owned businesses that are independent of others and usually bear the name of a person who works there. Do you Americans have the equivalent of these minimarkets, independent of mega corporations or franchises, which are solely family businesses?
UCFknight2016@reddit
bodegas or corner shops. common in big cities like NYC.
pepperpiehoarder@reddit
Yup!!! The ones i grew up with were Mexican/ Central American family owned markets that were in small strip malls
They either double as a resturant or butcher shop
Fearless_Market_3193@reddit
We had Korean and Middle Eastern shop owners in my neck of the woods
Live-Ad2998@reddit
More in larger older cities.
In the country where there are lots of farms you will find roadside stands where they sell their fruit and vegetables.
Some small towns have an independent family market but they are scarce. Most have a convenience store where most everything is full price and is part of a franchise.
YellojD@reddit
Yeah, we have a few. I’d say we have 7 to eleven of them.
Shim182@reddit
We have convenience stores, which may be connected to a large corp or be independently owned. I have one down the street from my apartment that I used to go to for my lunch when I worked from home or at the call center around the corner.
Distinct_Chair3047@reddit
Depending on where you are, yes we do. I've always called them Shoppettes.
Squigglii@reddit
We have them in major cities particularly in the northeast. Rural areas don’t have foot traffic, so they have dollar stores instead. Unfortunately just about all the dollar stores are from large companies like dollar general.
Lupiefighter@reddit
There are still some rural areas where dollar stores haven’t killed off these mom and pop stores for essentials, but I do worry that may change in the future.
Squigglii@reddit
Our piggly wiggly and local grocers has unfortunately has gone under.
We have the Brookshires’s brothers founded in east Texas. But the brothers split into like one larger more corporate chain called “brookshires”, and the other brother has “brookshires brothers” which are more mom and pop stores in very small towns.
There’s a few local grocers in these towns, but they’re not doing near as well as they did when I was a kid unfortunately:/
ReturnByDeath-@reddit
Sounds a lot like the bodegas you'd find in New York. I think most would probably refer to them as "corner stores".
CommitteeofMountains@reddit
"Spa" in Boston.
Took my dad a long time to figure out what his roommate was inviting him to each morning when he first moved to the area.
mst3k_42@reddit
Spa? That’s one I haven’t heard before.
hydraheads@reddit
I've only heard my Boston friends' parents' generation say this but have never heard anyone in my generation or younger say it
jpallan@reddit
It's older, and not used as much any longer. More likely to refer to the corner market or the corner store, or simply "the cohnah" in local parlance.
They always have milk, bread, eggs, instant coffee, newspapers, bags of ice, pints of ice cream, and bottles of basic remedies like paracetamol and ibuprofen. Most sell lottery tickets. Most sell condoms. Most sell beer.
V3DRER@reddit
Do people up there really say paracetamol? I thought that was only over the pond.
Suppafly@reddit
Whether someone says acetaminophen/Tylenol vs paracetamol online is basically a shibboleth to tell if they are a real American.
wmass@reddit
We say acetaminophen in the USA. Many drugs have different names in other countries. When I was an RN I knew a few of them but the only other one I remember right now is a drug that isn’t used much anymore: The brand name was Demerol, its generic name in the US is meperidine in the UK it is called pethidine. Sometimes even the same drug by the same maker has a different brand name in different countries. This may have to do with certain names already being taken in the other country or it may be for marketing effect. Viagra is a brand name that sounds, um, lively in English. It probably wouldn’t be called the same thing in Japan unless it were already well known there as a US product.
toenail-clippers@reddit
Ive only heard that from people in the UK
SaltandLillacs@reddit
No, we don’t.
jpallan@reddit
Both are understood, but as this community exists to elucidate American behaviour, I write with an international focus.
snmnky9490@reddit
I've only heard people from UK call it that
toenail-clippers@reddit
Haha I love the boston accent, not to far off from mine. Parents grew up in north jersey and I inherited their accent. "Bawwston" "Cawwfee" 😭 The only time in my life i left the tristate area (i really only went to philly and nyc) i knew everyone knew i wasnt from there. My sister told me people told her shes faking it 😭😭
cocococlash@reddit
Is it really spa? Or spar?
SnooMaps7887@reddit
It is soa.. It isn't a super common usage anymore, and you would only say "I am going to the spa" if that was in the business' name. Otherwise you are going to the "corner store."
Moppermonster@reddit
The claim it derives from soda fountains and not from the supermarket chain De Spar, which has been around the 1930s and mostly runs corner stores, seems a bit.. contriver though.
SnooMaps7887@reddit
The first "spa" in Boston (Thompson's Spa) was named that when it opened in 1895, which appears to predate Spar by quite some time (Spar also does not have any presence in the United States).
CommitteeofMountains@reddit
Written "spa," sometimes pronounced "spar" in the same way as "idear."
botulizard@reddit
There are certain things, like "spa" for corner store and "cleanser" for dry cleaner, that are understood to be part of Boston's lingo, but you'd never hear them anymore, like I'm 33 and familiar with them, but have never used them day-to-day. You'd only still see them on the sign in front of the business, and even then it's increasingly rare for these places to be advertised as anything but a dry cleaner and a market of some description.
witchy12@reddit
Uhhh maybe years ago, but I've been living in Boston for the past few years and have never once heard this before lmao.
Watchfull_Hosemaster@reddit
Dad said he was going to the Stoughton Center Spa back in 1982 for a pack of smokes and hasn’t come back since. Just found out four years ago that I have four half siblings in Nebraska.
We used to get our daily groceries at the Spa and on the weekends we’d go to the Stop and Shop. They don’t have those out in Nebraska!
Outrageous_Ad5290@reddit
SkyPork@reddit
That's what I was thinking, even though I don't have any real experience with bodegas. Out west here we have convenience stores like Circle K, which sounds at least a little similar.
sadrice@reddit
Well farther out west we do actually have them, and not just Circle K family owned one offs.
They are generally at least partly liquor stores, though they have a lot more basic foods and household goods than you would usually expect out of one, but I used to live near one that barely had alcohol but was a carniceria and taqueria, which is not a particularly rare arrangement.
tigerlily4501@reddit
I was about to say this exact comment.
Yggdrasil-@reddit
Agreed, we have lots of corner stores where I live in Chicago
GooseinaGaggle@reddit
They're usually Dollar stores here in other parts of the Midwest. Ohio is just a fucking disaster sometimes
Why_Teach@reddit
OP was not asking for chain stores but small, family own shops.
GooseinaGaggle@reddit
Yeah, and where I'm at they've been replaced
elunabee@reddit
Yeah Dollar General's whole business model seems to be running small rural businesses out.
Why_Teach@reddit
Yeah, it’s too bad.
Shortchange96@reddit
sometimes?
K_Linkmaster@reddit
I was 33 before I saw a "convenience store" without gas. They still seem weird and I live in a big city now.
angrystan@reddit
"handy store" in the Ohio River Valley. Although the old, successful ones are a little differentiated from convenience stores these days.
SusanLFlores@reddit
I live in the Chicago area and I also live in Michigan. I agree about the little corner store scenarios in Chicago, but I’ve never heard of a little store in Michigan called a party store.
osteologation@reddit
I've lived here in michigan 44 years. it was probably only 10 years ago that I learned they weren't called party stores everywhere. its definitely a ubiquitous term here.
SusanLFlores@reddit
What part of Michigan have you lived that you heard liquor stores called party stores? I’ve spent nearly 70 years in both Chicago and Michigan and never heard anything called a party store, but I’m in the northern LP on the west coast. I’ve touched base with a couple other people here who have never heard it either. I wonder if it could be because of the coastline having so many tourists from other states that the term party store just never caught on.
osteologation@reddit
Thumb area. I was discussing with my wife that maybe it’s a lower Michigan thing.
SusanLFlores@reddit
I did some searching online and the claims seem to say it’s state wide. I have one person I haven’t yet asked, who has lived her long lifetime on the west coast of MI that I haven’t yet asked because I haven’t seen her recently, so hopefully I’ll see her before I head back to Chicagoland for the winter.
Haunting_Turnover_82@reddit
We used to have them here in SLC, but that was decades ago. Mostly large supermarkets around here. Small towns might be different, though.
Cryptographer_Alone@reddit
Party stores typically focus the majority of their sales on alcohol. Then some snacks, paper plates, solo cups, etc. Hence the term 'party' -- it's the party basics. They are typically small businesses, and so some party stores will have random other things depending on what other retailers are nearby. That could be groceries or paper products, could be cheap white tshirts. Who knows?
But seriously, at least half the store is booze.
SusanLFlores@reddit
I’ve only heard of such stores in Michigan specifically the west coast of Michigan, called liquor stores.
Cryptographer_Alone@reddit
The term party store is legitimately dying out (and it is specifically a MI thing), as party store owners retire with no one buying the business. MI municipalities limit the number of licenses to sell alcohol that they issue. So when a retail license opens up, especially one for hard liquor, it's generally snapped up by a corporation these days rather than being available for another small business. And for suburban small businesses, it often makes more sense to just sell alcohol since many of their middle and upper class customers will preferentially buy their other party supplies at a big grocery store/supermarket. So, a liquor store rather than a party store, focusing on high volumes and niche products that a supermarket isn't likely to stock. But some liquor stores still keep the branding of 'party store' depending on the region.
Traditional party stores survive today in poorer urban areas, often in food deserts, where their clientele may not be able to just pop over to the supermarket several miles away on a whim. Also in rural settings where your choices for alcohol and food are the party store, Walmart, the dollar store, and gas station convenience stores (though some party stores also sell gas). Most other places, corporate supermarkets have killed the traditional party store.
SusanLFlores@reddit
Even 60+ years ago I never heard the term party store in Michigan. Could it be a regional term within Michigan?
Serventdraco@reddit
Most party stores I go to have frozen food and non-perishable groceries in addition to all the liquor.
DeaconFrostedFlakes@reddit
Yeah, that’s what OP said, “only the essentials for living.”
anonymouse278@reddit
I can't adequately describe the crushing disappointment I experienced as a child finally visiting the "party store" my cousins in Michigan were always referencing and finding out it was just a convenience store.
ValosAtredum@reddit
Talking online with a friend in California, she was extremely confused when I said I went to the party store and got some Bacardi’s and Smirnoff’s*. To her, a party store is like Party City where you get decorations and shit.
* there’s another tell: the possessive-izing of company names that sound at least like they could be a person’s name.
sideshow--@reddit
Yeah, in Chicago too. I see a lot of these very school to high schools. They sell a lot of drinks and snacks that kids would want. I think there are more on the south side that serve the general population more than on the north side.
Then there are all the little ethnic grocery stores that you can find in the various neighborhoods. Those range from quite large to small like what OP is describing.
piscesinfla@reddit
There was a party store very close to where I lived in MI and you just brought back the memory of their store-made garlic cheese bread. OMG, so good and never was able to replicate it.
Bokonon10@reddit
Oh wow I completely forgot about those. Michigander born and raised, but been out of the country for a few years now. Immediately brought back memories of childhood before going out on the lake or going fishing.
Amazing_Wolf_1653@reddit
As a Michigander I agree with this!
AKA_June_Monroe@reddit
And they exist because of discrimination.
Rough-Trainer-8833@reddit
This is what I was going to say.
Bodega aka corner store. Like a 7-11 or Wawa but only 1 or 2 locations and family owned.
FarCoyote8047@reddit
LA has them too. Not as many as the NY ones, and they are called corner stores here, and don’t sell hot food or coffee.
SanchosaurusRex@reddit
Tienditas. Donut shops fill the niche for cheap sandwiches and coffee.
Pkrudeboy@reddit
Do they have cats? It’s not a bodega unless they have a cat wandering around.
FarCoyote8047@reddit
Does outside count? LA county has 5 million stray cats
Pkrudeboy@reddit
If the strays can come inside and hang out on a random shelf, sure.
FarCoyote8047@reddit
I wish that were the case! Unfortunately thats not really a thing here. The weathers nice all year so the cats just stay outside. I couldn’t even coax my strays i fed for five years into my house, they were fixed of course, but preferred to live outside.
FormalFriend2200@reddit
We used to have a lot of them, but the big store "fat cats" are purposely running them out of business nationwide.
NicolasNaranja@reddit
We do have them in Florida. I think they are slowly being killed off in the areas becoming more suburban. Wawa and 7-11 seem to be popping up like weeds nowadays. But, growing up I had Kenny’s grocery it was a small corner store with no gas you could get beer, snacks, cigs, and essential groceries. I currently have two close to me. The bigger one is called the Triangle Market and they have groceries, bait, cheap clothes, and a wide assortment of marijuana paraphernalia. The other is The Fat Gator and it is much smaller but you can get a good empanada and a good cortadito there. I used to work in a town that had a place called Latin Market and it was a micro grocery store. They had a limited selection of fresh produce and meat as well as dry groceries and damn good Cuban sanwiches
Ok-Aside2816@reddit
Not in most areas in florida but definitely in new york
KindLiterature3528@reddit
My city has set up two different small markets for local farms to sell their produce and meat at. The local bakeries have also begun selling at them. But that's not typical for the rest of the US.
Fio_2008@reddit (OP)
Before you answer me, Americans, I forgot to mention more things. Generally, and especially outside of cities, they are precarious mini markets that only have the essentials. They are not large and they do not sell canned goods, but fresh ones. As I said, they are the size of a small room, very small.
Freedum4Murika@reddit
These used to exist - kind of - in the American South where it's poor and rural. You'll see abandoned old very small independent stores from the 1930s - 50's at rural crossroads but now that everyone has a car - or a freind with a car - the gas stations have replaced them.
rrsafety@reddit
Very small room? No.
Fio_2008@reddit (OP)
Yes a tiny one
FormalFriend2200@reddit
Stay away from those. Especially if you walk in and it smells like pits or sweaty socks...
pepperpiehoarder@reddit
Dont thinl ive seen one that only sells fresh product
But most ive seen do carry them along with canned and dry products like beans dry noodles and rice
The closes i can think are local home ranches who sell their product in a small stand near the entrance
Usually products they personally grow like fruits, most ive seen around tend to be oranges strawberrys and a few veggies
A few ive seen sell honey too from local beehives they hire to pollinate the flowers for their crops and eggs if they have chickens too
shelwood46@reddit
Farm stands are what this sounds like, only fresh.
WhatABeautifulMess@reddit
Like other are saying we have many bodegas or corner stores that are this size and utility. Most do have pantry and canned goods, in addition to fresh. If it only sold fresh fruits and veggies I’d typically call that a produce market or green grocery rather than a corner store that has a little bit of everything (food basics but also soap, sponges, toothpaste, etc)
MGaCici@reddit
Yes but they are in just certain parts of town. I have a few favorites.
Night0wlGamer@reddit
Yes, we have those.
MyUsername2459@reddit
Yes, they exist.
They typically exist in larger cities, and are called bodegas. They are much rarer in smaller towns or rural areas.
There are also "convenience stores" that are similar, but also sell gasoline and are normally part of a chain or franchise.
ChicagoZbojnik@reddit
Only douche bags from New York call them Bodegas, Jethro Dull.
xqueenfrostine@reddit
I would add to that that they’re most common in large walkable cities. In large car-centric cities, you don’t have a lot of convenience stores that aren’t also gas stations and gas stations tend to be more corporate. Actual minimarts/bodegas/convenience stores generally need foot traffic to really thrive.
jvc1011@reddit
People think of Los Angeles as car-centric, yet we have them everywhere. No gas station required.
MyUsername2459@reddit
I know there are a few in downtown Lexington, KY (I can think of two right offhand). . .which is definitely a "car" city. Downtown Lexington is sorta walkable for the few blocks of the heart of downtown, so we do have some. . .which is why I said "typically".
grillordill@reddit
don’t bother, the quibblers don’t care about what you actually said, just their chance to say ”actually”
jvc1011@reddit
They’re only called bodegas in the NYC area that I know of. We don’t call them that in Los Angeles (liquor stores), nor are they called that in Baltimore (corner stores).
Adept_Carpet@reddit
They also come back in really rural areas, places where the nearest large grocery/department store is an hour or more away.
MyUsername2459@reddit
Around here, in the really rural areas, those little stores don't exist any more.
All the ones I know like that in rural areas closed down in the 90's or 2000's.
Dollar General replaced them.
Deep-Hovercraft6716@reddit
I don't know, I think the Dollar generals count. They're they're not that much bigger than some of the stores they replaced. And then what about pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens? Wouldn't they count as well?
MyUsername2459@reddit
OP was talking about places that were independent of large corporations or franchises, so they don't count for his question.
Functionally, yeah, Dollar General has replaced them.
Also, CVS and Walgreens definitely only exist in the larger towns. You are NOT seeing a Walgreens or CVS in a town of 800 people (like the small town my grandparents lived in that used to have a store like that, and now has a Dollar General), or 300 people (another small town I can think of that used to have a little store but now has a Dollar General). You're only getting a Walgreens or Dollar General in a town with a couple thousand people at least.
Deep-Hovercraft6716@reddit
There is literally a CVS And a Dollar general in the town of 300 people that I grew up in.
CVS bought the local independent pharmacy that used to be there.
jda404@reddit
Bummer. There's a local mom and pop little store 5 mins from me that I would say fits the definition of a mini market, definitely smaller than the size of a Dollar General, but they keep it well stocked. I always check there before Dollar General and even if he doesn't have what I need I buy something anyways.
Plus his store is clean, there's two Dollar Generals near me and they're both messy and dirty. Most of the time aisles are cluttered up with carts of stuff that needs unpacked and stocked on the shelves.
RedStateKitty@reddit
Some DGs are well managed and stocked. One near us the manager is regularly there super early, things are kept clean and orderly, and the manager participates in community activities. The parking lot is cleaned up and maintained Others are neglected, managers do very little to keeptgings the store or parking lot clean and products are not put away or any semblance of order maintained.
Kingsolomanhere@reddit
In the 60's and 70's back when one car families were more common we had 5 family owned small stores in a town of 4500. Mom would send me with a note for lunch meat and cigarettes as early as 8 years old. They are all gone now; there are a couple of convenience stores down by the interstate a mile away and that's it
MyUsername2459@reddit
Yeah, I remember little stores like that from when I was a kid in the 80's and 90's. They're all gone now. Every last one.
The last ones I know of, like OP described, anywhere around here closed in the mid/late 2000's. . .but they'd definitely been fading out since the late 80's or so.
You might see a convenience store , but not some non-chain, unbranded, non-franchised place. A gas station convenience store in a rural area is the closest you'll get.
Improvements to roads generally made it quicker and easier for people in a lot of very small towns that might have only had those little stores to get to bigger towns with supermarkets and chain stores. . .and Dollar General's expansion into rural America definitely helped finish them off.
Sataypufft@reddit
Out in the rural parts of the US they're often called general stores or country stores. Where I grew up we had a couple of general stores in town, one sold gas as well. Where I live now most of them are just "so and so store" or "townname store". You can usually get something to eat, something to cook at home, random small home repair supplies, etc .
Lupiefighter@reddit
Yep. Rural area always have one nestled away for essentials. We have some property up in the mountains. We always go to the Mercantile (our country store) is we forget something. You are always going to overpay because you know it’s preferable to driving an hour to the grocery store for that one item. lol.
NotTurtleEnough@reddit
Do they call them bodegas in Chicago? They certainly don’t in LA. I thought it was only an NYC thing.
RedStateKitty@reddit
Around here the Hispanic stores are called tiendas
PlantSkyRun@reddit
Not really. Transplants in Chicago sometimes call them that. Mostly convenience stores or corner stires.
MyUsername2459@reddit
I don't know, I've only been to Chicago once, and it wasn't a long stay.
I know they're often called that in Kentucky, mostly because of cultural osmosis by them being called "bodega" online, or in the media.
MacaroonSad8860@reddit
There are non-chain convenience stores where I grew up (not a big city)
skateboreder@reddit
We have them all over.
And they're almost always ran by foreigners, ironically.
TheDuckFarm@reddit
Yes, we call them convenience stores. They could also be called a quickie mart, bodega, or a corner store.
They are most likely different than yours. I say that because I’ve lived in other countries as well as visited other countries and these small stores tend to be fairly unique wherever I go. But we do have them they sell groceries, basic tools, hats, beverages, alcohol, etc..
Low_Cook_5235@reddit
We do. The places Ive lived that had them were urban…ie more apartments and fewer cars. So you’d walk to the convenience store to get a few things vs drive to bigger store to get groceries for the week.
send2steph@reddit
In these urban bodegas or convenience stores like this, are the prices somewhat comparable to a full size grocery store? Or are the prices really high like a convenience store that is part of a gas station?
weedtrek@reddit
And in certain regions they are ubiquitous with gas stations. I don't think my entire state has a single convenience store without gas.
Coconut-bird@reddit
Florida here, we have a few that are not connected to gas stations and some are not related to chains and named after the owners (Pat's is the one near me). I've always referred to them as mini-markets or Jiffy stores (famous for the Jiffy Store Feet sterotype)
Jacks_Lack_of_Sleep@reddit
Probably low income urban areas in your state
weedtrek@reddit
Low income yes, urban no, that's why we need all the gas stations.
WowsrsBowsrsTrousrs@reddit
I know of two or three Royal Farms that aren't gas stations, but they're older locations; all the newer ones are gas stations, and usually large ones, 8 or more pumps. (OK, not Buc-ees large, but large compared to conventional gas stations like Sunoco or Marathon.)
Why_Teach@reddit
But the gas station ones are usually parts of a chain. I thought OP was asking for shops known by individuals.
602223@reddit
Gasoline is very low margin. It’s a traffic driver - they want to get you in the store where the profit is made.
silkywhitemarble@reddit
California and Nevada, we have them without gas. I live down the street from a 7-11 and they don't sell gas.
annang@reddit
Does calling them quickie marts predate the Simpsons? I always assumed that’s where it came from, and I guess I’ve never seen someone write it out before.
relikter@reddit
There was a "Qwik Mart" where I grew up in the 80s, so the name isn't completely original to the Simpsons, but they're probably the most famous reference. Quick Mart is a pretty generic name for a corner store.
Hatweed@reddit
Quick Stop was my local one and it’s still open.
jeremiah1142@reddit
Quik Stop was one near me, pre-Simpsons.
PlantSkyRun@reddit
The Simpsons reflected reality. Quick Stop, Quick Mart, Kwik Stop, Kwik Mart, etc.
TheDuckFarm@reddit
Yes. It’s really common is the southern states. In the old days these names were highly geographical, these days everyone moves all over the place so you hear all the names.
cocococlash@reddit
Yes, but there are a lot of versions. Quick mart, etc. Mart is for little store, so you can put anything in front of it. But Apu did make it famous.
erilaz7@reddit
A lot of convenience stores are big corporate chains, though: 7-Eleven, Circle K, ampm, etc.
drunkenwildmage@reddit
Also knoen as 'Stop-n-Rob'
IONTOP@reddit
Carnicerias too!!!!
That's your one stop shop for Mexican Food, groceries, etc.
creamalamode@reddit
I hear them interchangeably called corner stores by most and bodegas, usually by Spanish folks! They are usually about 1/10 of an actual grocery store. When I was a kid, my mom would occasionally send me up to one about a half mile from the house when she needed milk but already started dinner and couldn't walk away.
gosuark@reddit
Many comments talking about ‘bodegas’ but I have never heard this term for a convenience store. Is it regional?
Suppafly@reddit
It's what they call them in New York, most of us are familiar with the term though since it's used in TV and Movies quite a bit.
sebastianbrody@reddit
Your tag on your profile says "California". I am really curious where you are from in California that doesn't understand the term "bodega".
jvc1011@reddit
I’m from Los Angeles. Fourth generation. We don’t call them that and I was in my 30s before I knew what “bodega” referred to in the NYC sense.
I’m curious about where you are from in California that uses “bodega” to refer to this kind of shop.
arcticmischief@reddit
He can’t, because he’s not from California.
Native-born Californian here. I understand the Spanish word “bodega” to mean “wine shop,” but until I got to know people from New York, I had never heard that term used to refer to a corner convenience store in that manner. That’s a uniquely NYC term, just like saying that someone is waiting “on line.”
Fio_2008@reddit (OP)
That frustrates me a little. I'm not talking about wineries, but rather little shops that sell the most basic of everything.
Jscapistm@reddit
Just the most basic? Probably not. The closest you'd come is dollar general and the like but they are a large chain and they have a bunch of crap. But it wouldn't make economic sense to just sell ONLY the very BASICS out of your house or a tiny shop. That's not a thing, people buy from either real stores or Amazon.
Fio_2008@reddit (OP)
With the most basic I mean rice, flour, eggs, bread, soda, etc. There is also junk food but there is not as much variety as in the US. I see videos of all the types of junk food that there is in America and I realize that it is not in my little store. Another characteristic is that those little stores here are in front of the owners' house and I, for example, can go every day to buy and come back.
Zoot-just_zoot@reddit
I don't think we have the type of store you describe exactly.
The similar types of stores we have are:
Bodegas- usually in large cities, especially NYC and the coasts. They sell groceries, cigarettes, drinks, snack foods, household goods, sometimes wine/beer/alcohol. (they are not wineries. Ignore Google Translate on this. They are small independent stores). It's possible that the owners might live above the store if the building is old enough to have an apartment above the store. That was more common in the past.
Convenient store - Usually part of a gas station, sells all of the above plus sometimes souvenirs, travel items, etc. They are usually chains but sometimes they are independently owned. They are both in cities, rural areas, on highways and interstates, pretty much everywhere.
General store/market- pretty rare, but some areas might have independently owned general store with some groceries as well as household goods, but they would probably be larger than what you're talking about, and the owners would likely not live there, but I have come across some shops in New Mexico that are part of the owners' land/property, and they live behind there. Those tend to be specialty shops though now that I think about it and sell specialty things that the area is known for, like jerky, condiments, dried peppers, homemade jams, salsas, as well as handmade decor.
What you describe just is not a thing in the U.S. as much. Everything is so commercialized and regulated there are rules about where people can live vs. where they can do business is part of the reason. And larger chains and corporations make it so it would be very difficult for anyone to make a living doing what you are talking about, if they could even afford the permits to do so.
Hope that makes sense?
Afromolukker_98@reddit
😂😂😂 Bodega in NYC is not a winery. They are damn near what you said above. Family owned, smaller, convenience store.
The term is specific to NYC. But throughout US larger cities you see same thing. Just called corner store or convenience stores.
Rough-Trainer-8833@reddit
this is a translation issue
bodega de vin = wine cellar - I'm sure that may be shortened to bodega in the OP home country.
bodega = store
NYC and its surrounding area have small shops the OP described called bodegas. They are often in latino communities and are run by Puerto Rican/ Dominican etc folks who have or had Spanish as their native language.
I have seen the term used in Miami and it's surrounding area in Cuban neighborhoods too.
IHaveBoxerDogs@reddit
I think you used the wrong word. I the U.S., wineries are attached to vineyards and you go there on weekends for wine tastings. Maybe you meant liquor stores?
silkywhitemarble@reddit
I think that's what's happening, too--wrong word. Even as a kid, I always called it a liquor store--still do.
silkywhitemarble@reddit
In some places (and cases), liquor is a basic necessity! In California, some people call these small markets liquor stores, but they sell much more than that. Even then, it's mostly a small selection of beer and hard liquor. You can also find candy, chips, soda, snacks, canned food, household items, toys--a small selection of things you might need but can't get to a bigger store to buy. But here in the U.S., a winery is a place that makes wine, and you can go there for wine tasting, tours, fancy meals, souvenirs, and things like that. They are usually not in the city.
Argo505@reddit
Nobody said anything about Wineries.
>rather little shops that sell the most basic of everything.
Yes, those are Bodegas.
Jscapistm@reddit
Just the most basic? Probably not. The closest you'd come is dollar general and the like but they are a large chain and they have a bunch of crap. But it wouldn't make economic sense to just sell ONLY the very BASICS out of your house or a tiny shop. That's not a thing, people buy from either real stores or Amazon.
FormalFriend2200@reddit
Wineries? That's a whole different animal!...
Rough-Trainer-8833@reddit
have seen/ heard them called Bodegas when visiting Miami and the surrounding area as well
PlantSkyRun@reddit
Its a New York term that ignorant transplants craving for the urban experience of their imagination have brought to other cities.
FormalFriend2200@reddit
Yep. It's a New York thing.
Dangerous-Safe-4336@reddit
Yes, it's very New York.
Night0wlGamer@reddit
Bodega is usually used in New York for convenience and corner stores. Not quite what OP is talking about.
OP is asking about general stores or town markets usually found in rural areas and small towns.
Suppafly@reddit
Yes, we have small stores. Some of the major US cities have their own variant, like bodegas in NYC and corner stores in Chicago. Rural areas usually have convenience stores attached to gas stations, or standalone "dollar" stores like Dollar General serving this niche.
thebudman_420@reddit
My ex girlfriend used to go to a small business that you describe but i don't know if they have everything. The parking lot can fit a handful of cars and that's about it. Maybe 3 or 4 but they have some food but it's more niche market food such as non homogenized milk. It's still pasteurized though because it has to be legally.
jvc1011@reddit
We call them liquor stores, because they make money from alcohol and tobacco sales. But they have small amounts of the essentials as well.
I’ve seen them in every city I’ve visited or lived in.
luisapet@reddit
Having lived in remote Paraguay, I can say that your minimarkets are amazing in terms of content and random 'luxury' goods (mostly European and Asian snacks) for cheap, compared with anything I've encountered in the US. We have plenty of minimarkets but not with the random (often bizarre) variety you find in el campo.
I still have a dusty bottle of Argentine wine I found at a random mini in Caazapa 25 years ago that I'm saving 'for the right occasion' with my friends who also livrd there. It was really cheap at the time, but apparently sought after in the US.
Then again, I also have a kilo of 1995 era La Rubia in the cupboard that I'd guard with my very life. 😅
TheJokersChild@reddit
Sounds like what we call a bodega. Common one you get into bigger cities.
Phil_ODendron@reddit
Most bigger cities have this type of store. But the term "bodega" isn't always widely used. When I lived in North Carolina, the word "bodega" was like a foreign word there.
illegal_miles@reddit
We don’t really call them that in California either. Plenty of small shops in cities like San Francisco and LA, but we usually just call them a liquor store or corner store. Maybe convenience store.
Most people know what you mean because we all know east coasters or watch tv lol
And some people have picked it up that way.
But it’s not standard.
EquivalentRooster735@reddit
In Virginia, hard liquor is a state monopoly, so liquor store very specifically refers to the state run ABC stores.
Corner store is the most commonly used term.
silkywhitemarble@reddit
California native as well, and I grew up calling them liquor stores, or just the name of the store (or location) if it wasn't a liquor store. My neighborhood had plenty of small, family-run stores--none had food like a bodega, and some sold fresh produce or meat. I think I first heard the word 'bodega' from TV.
ughthisusernamesucks@reddit
We always just called it “the fucking place with the shit…. You know… the place???” Since no one ever knew the name…. Maybe we should adopt bodega… seems shorter
PlantSkyRun@reddit
So transplants in Cali are ignorant too, huh?
mst3k_42@reddit
I knew bodega from watching tv, though I grew up in a rural area where we just had gas stations or grocery stores. Then I went to Spain and they called wineries bodegas.
PlantSkyRun@reddit
Yeah, they use Spanish words in Spain.
FormalFriend2200@reddit
It's pretty much a New York thing.
jephph_@reddit
Pretty sure most New Yorkers call it the deli
Someone might call it the bodega if it’s Dominican owned/operated but the generic and widely used term is deli
Yggdrasil-@reddit
They're just called corner stores or convenience stores in Chicago. Michigan calls them party stores!
Dangerous-Safe-4336@reddit
Yeah, that seems to be specific to NY and vicinity.
nomadschomad@reddit
Absolutely. Depending what neighborhood you’re in in the exact format of the store, we call these bodegas, tiendotas, mini markets, minimarts, or convenience store.
judijo621@reddit
7-11 Kwik-ee Mart Circle-K "Liquor store" "Bodega" This is a very short example of mini marts.
Yes. We do.
stephsationalxxx@reddit
Bodega, delivery, corner store, gas station
Far-Fortune2118@reddit
Yes, Michigander here and we call them “party stores”… there were a few around me where I grew up in the Detroit Metro area… many gas stations around here have basically what you’re mentioning as well…
StanUrbanBikeRider@reddit
Yes. I live in a high rise building in Philadelphia. We have a mini market in the building.
sanitarium-1@reddit
Sounds like a gas station
IL_green_blue@reddit
They used to be incredibly common, but over time many disappeared as larger stores/ chains popped up that offered better pricing. Now they’re mostly a novelty outside of places that would otherwise be food deserts.
_Creditworthy_@reddit
Occasionally you’ll find them in bigger cities, especially in New York. I live really close to a corner store but that probably puts me in the minority of Americans
Malcolm_Y@reddit
A lot of the farm families, both Amish and not, in my area have small outdoor booths or rooms in their houses where they sell basic agricultural goods like milk, eggs, butter, and vegetables.
Hatweed@reddit
Mini-marts, bodegas, corner stores, convenience stores, whatever you want to call them, we have them.
smarterthanyoda@reddit
I’ve lived in several South American countries, but not Paraguay.
Every Latin country I’ve been to has tiny markets that are often run out of people’s houses. There are usually one or two every block. We don’t have markets like that.
People have mentioned bodegas, but those are usually more developed than the small markets I’ve seen in Latin America. But, the big difference is the number of them. Except the downtown of a few big cities, there aren’t nearly as many of them. In South America, you could step out of your house to buy eggs or something for dinner in just a couple minutes. The US isn’t like that.
Fio_2008@reddit (OP)
That's exactly what I'm referring to: small markets that are in front of people's houses and that you find on the block. For example, I can leave my house and go to the first block or then to the second block and there I can buy eggs and things to make my dinner. That's what I'm referring to. Can Americans do that?
lazydaisytoo@reddit
I have seen them in my area, Norristown, PA, which has a lot of Mexican immigrants. Tiny little markets or even breakfast places.
__-_-_--_--_-_---___@reddit
In front of people's houses 🤔
Fio_2008@reddit (OP)
That's right, literally everyone here mentions warehouses, but I'm referring to small warehouses, which are in front of the house of the families who own them.
Jscapistm@reddit
That is not a warehouse. Warehouses are by definition much larger, and non-residential.
__-_-_--_--_-_---___@reddit
I don't you think you can do that in the United States without a license.
People do sell stuff without a license, though. Like the beloved tamale lady
Fio_2008@reddit (OP)
Well, in Paraguay they do that with a license.
Apocalyptic0n3@reddit
Zoning laws would likely prevent it in most/all regions here. We do have convenience/corner/party/drug stores and NYC has bodegas, but it's usually in dedicated small-ish spaces and they often skew toward junk foods because they're shelf stable. You generally aren't going to 7-11 to get a cucumber or Buscemis to get green beans. More like chips, crackers, drinks, hot dogs, pizza, burritos, etc.
jephph_@reddit
The places where this type of market is very common don’t have an area in front of the house.
The sidewalk then the street are directly in front of the houses
It’s possible the owner lives above the deli though which happens in some cases
This is what they look like around here:
https://www.google.com/search?udm=2&q=deli+store+nyc
FormalFriend2200@reddit
Used to be, but not much anymore. The families that lived back in the house would own & run them.
FormalFriend2200@reddit
We used to, but it's getting quite rare in most of the US.
Night0wlGamer@reddit
We have them out in the rural parts of the country. In the farming community I grew up in, they were common.
bookgirl9878@reddit
Yeah, we really don’t have an exact equivalent to what OP is talking about (I have traveled to South America so I know what they are describing) but the closest thing is in either very dense cities where people don’t drive as much or rural areas where the closest real grocery store might be a 30+ minute drive away.
Night0wlGamer@reddit
We do where I live. You walk down main street and there is the grocer owned by the local farmer, the corner store with snacks and food, medicine, and home repair items.
I've been to the type of store OP is talking about, and we do have them in farming communities.
justdisa@reddit
I can do that. I'm in Seattle. There are a number of corner stores, ethnic-cuisine-specific markets, delis, butchers, bakeries, and produce stands near me, plus seasonal farmers markets and convenience stores.
There are fewer than there were before the pandemic, though.
___deleted-@reddit
No. In the US there is “zoning” which determines whether an area is for residential only, commercial only or mixed use.
Most people live in residential neighborhoods where most businesses are not allowed.
This time of year we do have “farm stands” where people will sell their harvest directly to others.
In NYC there are “bodegas”, often run by South American immigrants, which are little family owned grocery stores. But they are generally located on the ground floor of larger apartment buildings. They aren’t the front of someone’s home.
Objective-Amount1379@reddit
Generally no. Maybe in NYC but most of the country you would have to drive somewhere, or walk but it would be more than a block or so. But remember, the U.S. is HUGE and a lot of areas are spread out
smarterthanyoda@reddit
Usually not. It’s more common to make a weekly trip to a supermarket and stock up.
Far-Lecture-4905@reddit
Yeah this is correct. These markets are very different from Convenience Stores.
Far-Lecture-4905@reddit
How is this a downvote? They are. Next time you walk three doors down on your street and buy some eggs and rice out of a person's garage take some pictures and prove how much this is normal life in the US.
__-_-_--_--_-_---___@reddit
The best tamales come out of some old lady's trunk and you must pay in cash
FormalFriend2200@reddit
But oooh they are so good! 👍
__-_-_--_--_-_---___@reddit
It’s the pure lard in every delicious bite!
Far-Lecture-4905@reddit
Well that's for sure the truth hehehe. But you have to find her in a parking lot unless you're lucky enough to live on her street.
FormalFriend2200@reddit
Yep. It's called the underground economy. But don't nark on your neighbor!...
Degenerecy@reddit
Depends on the city. Larger cities will have them but smaller ones like mine(30k pop.) only have like 3 or really small towns around 100ppl. One has existed here when we only had axlpx 10k ppl and the other two are Mexican stores.
Dave_A480@reddit
We call them convenience stores.
You only see them as their own thing in really big cities (where most of us don't live), otherwise they are usually attached to a gas station.
America being mostly single family homes means that our shopping development is mostly huge stores that you drive to in a car - you aren't allowed to build stores where most of us live, just houses....
teslaactual@reddit
Corner stores and strip malls
Birdywoman4@reddit
I have never seen one anywhere that I have lived.
RevolutionaryRow1208@reddit
Yes, of course. Both mom and pop operations and corporate franchise mini markets.
BookLuvr7@reddit
They exist, but they often have to specialize if a bigger chain store moves into the area.
Like if a big Walmart moves in nearby, they have to change their inventory to be things people want but can't get at the Walmart.
BloodOfJupiter@reddit
Yes, Convenient stores, small corner stores, or in some cities, bodegas, and they can vary depending on the cultures around you. In southern Florida, the ones near me are more Caribbean and Latin American oriented, and some here, and there are more Asian oriented stores. I love it, cause it get so many more options on food, or ingredients. There's also weekend farmer's markets all over, idk if that counts as a "mini market".
artisanmaker@reddit
Family owned small shops, in America we call them Mom and Pop shops. Since the 1990s, it has been getting harder and harder to make a profit if you are a mom and pop business because the large chain store companies can buy things at a discount price and they can sell their items for less cost. The mom and Pop shops have been closing. For example, Home Depot and Lowe’s have taken over as hardware stores and the family owned small hardware shop in each town have been closing.
So as a consumer in America, we work hard to earn our money and if we are going to purchase something the same exact thing at the big store or the mom and pop, we will go where the price is lowest for us. We have cars and we drive to the store so we will drive to the big store for the cheap price. Also, it becomes frustrating to drive all around trying to buy something and it’s not in stock in the size we need at the mom and pop shop, they will ask sometimes can we order it for you it will take a week to come in.
In the last 10 years it has grown, that it’s just better just to go online and order it online because they will have it in stock and they will have it in your size or exactly what you need. It will be in stock on Amazon and we can have it Usually in less than 24 hours delivered to our door.
For example, for our swimming pool, we needed a part to replace something that broke. My husband drove to the mom and pop swimming pool shop. They did not have it in stock. They said they could order it and it would be in a week. They were selling it at full recommended retail price. But then my husband looked on Amazon and it cost less with free shipping and we could have it the next day delivered to our house. Why did we waste our time even going to the mom and Pop shop? We wanted it right now. But now we have wasted an hour of our time driving around only to not have the product and then order it online instead.
Sharp_Ad_9431@reddit
Regionally some areas have them.
NYC is an example. Some very rural areas have them, but that is very dependent on location.
Most suburban areas won't have anything but chainstores. They exist best in the extremes, very dense urban and very rural (too small for chain stores to invest).
somecow@reddit
Absolutely. Both from a specific culture, or just a gas station with no gas. Or a dollar store, but those are terrible, and all chains.
The little mexican grocery store on the corner is cheaper, closer, little bit of everything, and usually fresher than the supermarket. Even gas stations will have a small selection of groceries (and usually some sort of little restaurant too).
Jaeger-the-great@reddit
They're quite rare depending on where you're at. In my city we do have a Mexican grocery store that's about the size of a hotel room. They sell things like spices, cheese, chorizo, snacks, molcajete, etc and supposedly they can even make tacos there to order. Very limited selection tho and my city also has some Mexican grocery super stores. I believe there's a few really small boutiques as well but I've never been in one. They are quite rare tho
LiberalTomBradyLover@reddit
Absolutely! The city I work in has mini markets like this (bodegas) at like every third corner. I think maybe one or two might be a “local chain” where the owner owns two shops.
WowsrsBowsrsTrousrs@reddit
We have local ethnic markets that are locally owned and usually run and staffed by the owner and their family, but pretty much all the "convenience stores" are big chains: 7-11, regional chains like Royal Farms and Highs, Wawa and Sheetz. And the dollar store chains.
small-gestures@reddit
In Massachusetts we have a few bodegas in a few cities, we still have a dying number of corner stores, turning into smoke shops. Mostly we have gas station convenience stores that are predominantly chains and CVS and Walgreens.
wieldymouse@reddit
Not in Florida. At least, not anywhere I've lived. The closest thing we have is a convenience store.
uninspiredclaptrap@reddit
Many Americans will never have seen such a store, but they are common in some cities
thatrightwinger@reddit
I'm sure there are more of those kinds of things in the larger, tighter American cities. But when you have enough space for a parking lot, usually, those will be taken up by a branded convenience store (like a 7-11) or perhaps a small grocery store (like Aldi).
HavBoWilTrvl@reddit
Here in the South, we have gas stations and convenience stores. You might find something more like a bodega in some of the larger cities but, mostly, its gas stations and convenience stores if you don't want to go to a grocery store.
throwaway-notthrown@reddit
Everyone is saying yes, but in my personal experience, it’s a not really. Not in the way you have them and not the way I have seen other countries have them. Sure, NYC has bodegas and I’m sure other places do too, but it’s definitely dependent on geographic location.
garden__gate@reddit
I’ve never lived anywhere in the US that didn’t have these. They’re more common in cities but certainly not exclusive to cities, much less exclusive to NYC.
Plow_King@reddit
didn't you see where the commenter said "in my personal experience, it’s a not really"?!?
no arguing with that! /s
throwaway-notthrown@reddit
🤣🤣 please, argue against my personal experience!
ACoinGuy@reddit
It is not unheard of to have a locally owned gas station. Which is basically what he is referring to. I have two within a few miles of my house. They sell gas, but obviously have milk and eggs and other quick items.
FormalFriend2200@reddit
Yep. That's how they make the money to pay the bills and the employees. They are only allowed by law to mark up the fuel 7 to 10 cents per gallon, depending upon the state...
shelwood46@reddit
If you include small markets that cater to a particular ethnicity or immigrant group, we have tons of Asian, Latino, Halal and Polish markets where I live, they are usually family-owned and in a strip malls, about the same size as a Dollar Store.
pepperpiehoarder@reddit
Guessing it depends, I live in Southern California and its pretty normal to me to run into a small family owned grocery market in a strip mall
Alot of them though tend to be specific ethnic shops and immigrant owned
The ones I grew up with were mostly Latin American or Asians specific shops depending on the city
Dark_Web_Duck@reddit
Yes we have mini-marts. We also have ethnic mini-marts. Where I live, we have a lot of Mexican and Asian mini-marts.
Thereelgerg@reddit
Yes
sfdsquid@reddit
Bodegas, corner stores, independently-owned convenience stores.
MattinglyDineen@reddit
Yes, absolutely. You typically find them in cities and they are typically Spanish.
cdb03b@reddit
We call them "convenience stores", "corner stores", "bodegas", "shops", or "gas stations" in a lot of regional variance. And they are everywhere.
Prize_Consequence568@reddit
Some do.
Some don't.
Ironlion45@reddit
They're common in areas with large number of Latin American immigrants.
Logical_Warthog5212@reddit
Yes, they’re called convenience stores. Some of them are just snacks and beverages, others may carry a variety of essentials from fresh produce to home goods, and some may even offer prepared foods. Some even sell alcohol, tobacco products, and/or lottery tickets. It runs the gamut.
___HeyGFY___@reddit
Convenience store, corner store, variety store, minimart are some of the names I've heard.
Zagaroth@reddit
They exist, but usually only inside the big cities. Those sort of corner stores are much rarer out in the suburbs.
I'm not sure about rural areas, but I am guessing no; the main town probably just has a few larger stores with very little competition.
Kineth@reddit
There are also bazaars and places where people will buy a stall to set up shop.
And yes, those types of businesses do still exist here, though small businesses have been dying over the last 30 years.
Irresponsable_Frog@reddit
I call them minimarts. They’re our corner stores or mom and pop shops. They are more common in cities. But We have them all over California.
SanchosaurusRex@reddit
yes
The products are just worse and more expensive than supermarkets.
Deep-Hovercraft6716@reddit
We attach them to gas stations.
bryku@reddit
Physically the closest thing would be a mall, but those are filled with corperations. The closest things in terms of family owned would probably be Farmers markets and swap meets, but they are typically outside. Although, I have seen some inside, but they are more like special events that might happen a few times a year.
walterbsfo@reddit
They may have canned food, shelf stable food, dairy and some frozen foods but few have fruits or vegetables. New York bodegas may be the exception here. Rural areas, especially in the south, have Dollar General stores
CallsignKook@reddit
The closest to that where I live is a neighborhood Walmart. Only groceries, medicine, hygiene products and the like. There’s no toys, electronics, home section, auto section, garden section or anything like that.
bountiful_garden@reddit
They're called bodegas here.
Madness_and_Mayhem@reddit
We should show him a Buc-ee’s
SignificantApricot69@reddit
Yeah and where I grew up on the east coast they were actually called mini markets or minute markets. Mostly just small convenience stores that aren’t like chain gas stations or something. A lot of them have full delis or other features like sub shops.
MrGeekman@reddit
Yes, we do. Germans also have them, though they call them "Aunt Emma stores".
dontlookback76@reddit
I live in Southern Nevade. We have convenience stores. They sell what you describe. In the corporate, but franchised, stores, there are usually cold items & cold items that can be reheated after purchase with an in-store microwave. Cold food can be purchased for the food government benefits program (SNAP), while food can not be in my state. Single/family owned sometimes has cold food. The family owned store we used to frequent i would by my swisher cigars and fountain drink every day we called the corner store. Some also have gas stations, and usually paired with gas is a pay to use air pump for your
No_Thought_7776@reddit
We have a few here and there. We call them Convenience Stores. They carry a few essentials, a few snacks, toilet paper, eggs, milk, bread, cereal, and so on.
Depending on licensing they might sell beer, cigarettes, or lottery tickets.
Some have facilities for making hot food, sandwiches, coffee, or bagels.
They charge a bit more than large chain supermarkets, but that's the price of convenience, correct.
Equivalent-Pin-4759@reddit
We have farmers’ markets.
msjammies73@reddit
I have one half a block from my house. I’m am always shocked by the sheer variety of what they carry. During the early pandemic they always had toilet paper and said it was easy to get, you just had to be sensible about it. They also always have eggs.
The produce quality is Meh. The prices are eye-melting. I ran out of butter for Christmas cookies on year and they changed $11 for half a pound.
SabresBills69@reddit
large cities can have vary small markets. you might find them in places like hospitals or large apartment/ condo buildings. thety carry the basics you might need at th3 last minute for cooking or medications if you have cold/ flu.
in the U.S. where you have a big car culture….. you have minimarts located at gas stations or at corners of residential areas ( 7-11 is a national chain, but there are local chains ) and these places do not sell gas. most gas stations come with a minimart
in some areas you have small size grocery stores that have limited supply of things and might have or less ailes of stuff. some Trader Joe’s are small like this and some supermarket chains might have older smaller stores. near where I live there is a local supermarket chains might that has a few full size stores in the area but one of them is about 1/3 if the size. it Carrie’s the same products, just not the same quantity nor variety. a product like potsto chips in a larger store might have 15+ flavors to sell. at this store they only sell 4 flavors.
in suburbs you have full size grocery stores
a submarketbinnthis are places like Costco, bjs, Sam’s club where they sell things in much larger sizes. in some cases these are designed around small businesses stocking up their shelves but they buy in larger quantities than a household does.
AuraNocte@reddit
We do. Usually on the weekends and it depends on the location. I have one that I vend at usually every weekend except in the hottest part of the summer. It's not just food though, it's also other things. Tiny businesses where the owner make their products at home and attend to sell what they make.
secondmoosekiteer@reddit
Alabama has tiendas, overprices gas stations, and dollar generals. That's about it.
Gnumino-4949@reddit
In my area, Carniceria.
yidsinamerica@reddit
Yes. We have many different names for them.
redditreader_aitafan@reddit
Sounds like bodegas in New York City but they are uncommon in most of the rest of the US. They work well in ultra urban areas, they do not make sense in rural areas. Gas stations throughout the country would be close, but they have a limited selection and are overpriced.
GrumpyBear1969@reddit
Yes and no. In small cities, not really.
However, in rural america you will all sorts of awesome, locally owned stores that are the local grocer, hardware store and sometimes post office. I always try to stop in random rural stores. They are frequently really awesome.
Josephcooper96@reddit
I guess the closest thing to that would be the gas station stores or convenience stores/bodegas aka hood store
The_Motherlord@reddit
We had one on our corner for 20 years...they didn't survive the pandemic
Scrounger888@reddit
We have them in Canada, usually referred to as convenience stores, variety stores or markets/marts, such as Eddie's Variety Store, Burt's Grocery or Hillcrest Market.
TwinFrogs@reddit
In cities, yes. Way out in the middle of nowhere, you can still find mom & pop country stores. Generally, anything near a freeway is Corporate Shit.
Better_Ad_1846@reddit
Lots of these in country villages, tho the size can be larger. just the basics. Beer, gas, cigs, etc
MrDBS@reddit
We would also call them general stores in New England. They are bigger than a minimarket, and most of them became gas stations. But the ones that still exist usually sell sandwiches and fishing bait.
Mission-Carry-887@reddit
Americans invented the concept.
7-Eleven was founded in the U.S. in 1927, first as Southland Ice, then Tote Em, and finally 7-Eleven.
IHaveBoxerDogs@reddit
I have lived in cities where there were urban “food deserts.” (Areas where there were no traditional stores.) In those cities there were people who would sell things from their living rooms, front porches, or sheds. Is that what you mean? I don’t much about them, but I do know they existed. They weren’t legal, but authorities looked the other way, because they provided a service.
Neon_Gal@reddit
Convenience stores, as well as a lot of local businesses will operate that way. More urban areas will have more places like that whereas more rural areas will be overrun with stuff like 7-11s and Mavericks
CombinationClear5672@reddit
yes, the city i grew up in has a place with “market” in the same that’s essentially a small grocery store, and the current owner is the 3rd generation owner of the business
CombinationClear5672@reddit
a lot of people are saying convenience store but that’s a different thing. it’s a market/small grocery store
Johnny-Shiloh1863@reddit
Many if not most gas stations have basics like bread, milk and eggs.
figool@reddit
A lot of the Asian markets I go to are like that, and a bunch of South American restaurants will also have one next door
trustingfastbasket@reddit
In the midwest, we call them party stores. I think it's because you normally have to stop there on the way? I dont know. I grew up with one on the corner of my street.
SugarSweetSonny@reddit
Bodegas
Hot_Car6476@reddit
Yes. These exist in America.
Appropriate-Food1757@reddit
711, Circke K. All gas stations basically
Constant-Security525@reddit
A lot in my native NJ. "Convenience stores", "corner stores", "Quickie marts", or we just refer to them by their name, which is the business title (often the owner's name or franchise name). Common ones are Wawa, 7-Eleven, QuickChek, etc.
OodalollyOodalolly@reddit
Pretty much every gas station has a little store. Some a family owned even though they look like a franchise.
vespers191@reddit
Do Americans have a way to sell you something?
Yes. The answer to that question is always yes.
FormalFriend2200@reddit
I have some swamp land in Florida and 40 acres & a mule for sale... cheap...
NoStandard7259@reddit
We have a lot, it’s a nice convenience but usually they are higher priced than an actual grocery store
FormalFriend2200@reddit
That's why it's called a convenience store.
zigzagstripes@reddit
Yes we call them convenience stores. In NYC they are called bodegas. Outside of New York City, they are usually a chain like 7 Eleven, not family owned though.
Even in Chicago, it’s mostly 7 elevens and liquor stores that happen so sell a lot of non-alcoholic drinks and snacks and maybe absolute essentials like ibuprofen, condoms, maybeee a roll of toilet paper.
FormalFriend2200@reddit
Ibuprofen and condoms? Which do you use first??
Oomlotte99@reddit
Sounds like corner stores.
Rarewear_fan@reddit
Yes, this one is my favorite:
https://youtu.be/FJ3oHpup-pk?si=4zQzhHAlg4l-BEj8
IONTOP@reddit
Fuckin' knew it before I clicked...
KPhoenix83@reddit
Yes, we do.
notthegoatseguy@reddit
Places like 7/11 and store attached to gas stations fill this void. Even if they are a part of a chain, they are often franchise owners. And for a lot of them, the owner is also the primary and sometimes the only employee. Some in the business world call it buying yourself a job.
bloodyshrimp2@reddit
Simple meals (think a wrapped hamburger or similar) out on a heated shelf are super common in Midwest gas station convenience stores now
BrandyBunch805@reddit
7-11? it’s one room. has everything from birth control pills to ice cream to fresh coffee to beer to milk to lottery tickets to slices of birthday cake 🎂
SRB112@reddit
I’m finding out that going back 60 years most rural areas people would dedicate a room or two of their house to be run as a store. People born in the 1950s and earlier point to what is now a house and reminisce, telling me that’s where their mother would grocery shop. This was when the typical family would have one car and the mother would stay home with the children. She’d walk to the neighborhood store for smaller purchases in between trips to the regular supermarket. That was a bit before my time. What I remember was independent grocery stores that had 2-4 aisles in smaller towns that did not have regular sized supermarkets. Some still exists. One near me has been in operation for 137 years. During that time it’s stayed in families with only 4 different families owning it during those 137 years. The person that bought it 25 years ago kept the prior owners name as a tribute.
FormalFriend2200@reddit
Yep. It was totally like that back then. You shopped and your kids bought treats and candy from your neighbor's store.
Wild_Ad8493@reddit
what do you think the US is lol
Sleepygirl57@reddit
Lots of small family owned stores in the rural areas. I grew up with the one in our town selling basics but you only shopped there if you were desperate and needed it fast. Due to the cost they charged. The closest big grocery store was 30 min away. They are much bigger than a room though.
Olderbutnotdead619@reddit
Just for booze, old junk food and cigarette
FormalFriend2200@reddit
Yep
lostBoyzLeader@reddit
Yes, they’re called “Costco” /s
agent-bagent@reddit
Everyone else told you we have them. What nobody is saying is that their prices can’t compete with the big chains. You’ll pay 20-50% more per item at a bodega
FormalFriend2200@reddit
Yep
bloodectomy@reddit
Like a bodega?
Oh yeah those are all over the place. They frequently have names like Quick Stop (or Quik or Kwik or similar) or Stop and Shop or, more frequently, just Liquor Store (and in that case they MOSTLY sell liquor but will also have an aisle or two for essentials)
Caveat here is that MOST of these places do not sell fresh food - like you wouldn't expect to get meat or vegetables for example. But canned/boxed stuff, like cans of soup or boxes of snacks, are usually available
johnwcowan@reddit
In NYC the bodegas have fresh food (fruit, vegetables, dairy, eggs) but not fresh meat or fish. I assume that's because of health regulations.
johnwcowan@reddit
Update: it turns out to be because bodegas have less powerful and cheaper coolers, and meat and fish would spoil too quickly.
iSc00t@reddit
Also you’re a big city. I would image a lot of larger cities have these. (Though I could be wrong)
kermac10@reddit
Same in Boston. I’ve seen some that have frozen meat/fish too but agree fresh is rare.
TarzanKitty@reddit
We were in Iowa for Debate nationals. The mini marts there were called Kum N Go. Our high school students all came home with Kum N Go merch.
Hwy_Witch@reddit
Kum n Go is a gas station chain
FlamingBagOfPoop@reddit
I’ve seen fruit but meant for immediate consumption and limited selection. Like bananas or apples. Not like you’re getting a bunch of bananas there to make some banana bread with. But more of a snack.
Cardassia@reddit
Mine is called the One Stop One Shoo, which is a hilariously accurate name.
BeastyBaiter@reddit
Just a normal "convenience" store here. They tend to be attached to gas stations, though not always. They sell overpriced laundry detergent, snacks, beer and soft drinks. May or may not have fruits and meats depending on location. Usually have some sort of deli in them too. There are also niche markets like "African Markets" around where I live in Houston. There are also Indian and Chinese equivalents scattered around.
We also have "farmers markets" where you can get locally harvested/butchered stuff. All the local fruits and vegetables are there, along with honey, home made sauces and meats. Farmers markets are generally outdoors and only open on weekends.
cocococlash@reddit
Ours are turning into fancy wine shops now 😞
IthurielSpear@reddit
We have lots of those in California. We cal them produce stands but they are literally permanent small stores that carry produce and other goods, depending on the store.
Bear_Salary6976@reddit
Either big cities or very small towns would have them. You will find a lot of them in New York City. NYC is so crowded that there just isn't enough room to build many large supermarkets. And many people in NYC don't drive, it makes sense to have stores that customers can walk to.
In very small cities, such stores are small because there are very few people nearby. Those stores will often sell other things. I remember seeing one that also had a video store, back when video renting was common. I saw one that had a restaurant. I remember even seeing one that had a tanning salon and a laundromat.
Everywhere else, you will find small stores that sell mostly snacks, drinks, alcohol, and cigarettes. Those are just called convenience store or corner markets. They are usually very expensive, but they are convenient.
RightToTheThighs@reddit
If you're in a city, yeah we have a version of this called bodegas or corner stores
GreenWhiteBlue86@reddit
I agree with most of the comments here -- but note that you seem to misunderstand the meaning of the word "warehouse", which suggests a very largetemporary storage facility rather than a small shop.
ExiledUtopian@reddit
Corner stores and Bodegas. Mostly in city cores and bigger cities... or out in rural America. Bodegas are starting to spread to many cities, not just the big.
In suburbia and remote areas alike, some gas station convenience stores fill this role. Almost all our thousands of gas stations are really just minimarkets. Many are independently owned and carry whatever the community needs. Some in rural areas have fridge and freezer cases and carry meat, cheese, dairy, etc. because nobody else does for miles.
Lesbianfool@reddit
Yes for sure, they’re typically called convenience stores. There are massive corporate chains of convenience stores, but we also have a ton of privately owned convenience stores and also “mom and pop” stores that could be anything from grocery stores to lumber yards or welding shops and auto repair stores.
Available_Hippo300@reddit
We call them “convenience stores”. They’re often tied to a gas station or some other specialty good like hot food. I live in a very rural area, and I have 3 I frequent. All of them sell basically goods like bread, milk, frozen food, toilet paper, ect, but they all have a different specialty good. The first one is a gas station. The second is a full on independent pizza shop, will everything you’d expect like sandwiches and wings. The third is half gun store. You can buy a hunting rifle with your milk.
Apprehensive_Camel49@reddit
Yup, to a degree. Bodega, corner store, convenience store, party store, mini mart, spas…gas stations and truck stops serve similar purposes I guess.
pittsburgpam@reddit
Of course we do. There is a little market 2 blocks from my house. My neighborhood was built mostly in the 1940s. The little market has beer and wine, basic non-perishable groceries, chips and snacks, a small selection of fresh veggies, and a meat counter.
annang@reddit
Some places in the US have them, some don’t. Many cities have some version of this, and people might refer to it as a corner store or a bodega or a deli. Something like a convenience store (common chains include 7-11, QuickTrip, Wawa) are chain versions of the same idea. Gas stations also often have small stores attached to them that serve this purpose along highways or in rural areas.
waitingforgandalf@reddit
All three of my last three homes were within 1/2 a block of a "convenience store." Where I live now there's another convenience store across an intersection from the one on my block, and the last place I lived had another convenience store 2 blocks away. Before that I lived in Brasil, across the street from a similar store. They aren't THAT common (being this close consistently is unusual, and I grew up in the countryside more than ten miles from the closest store). The convenience stores have ranged from a miniature Pakistani market, to small local chains, to a 7-11.
panda2502wolf@reddit
Not here in Alabama in the southern USA but I've seen em in New York, Chicago, and other large metropolitan areas.
Aly_Anon@reddit
In the midwest we call them Mom & Pop shops, the corner store, or the neighborhood market
MakalakaPeaka@reddit
We have bodegas, and to a lesser extent convenience stores. (The latter are typically bigger than what your'e describing, and are mostly corporate.)
callalind@reddit
Yep, they are the bodegas of NY and lots of other towns have their own versions.
somebodys_mom@reddit
There are fewer “mom and pop” stores than there were 50 years ago. The big chain stores can sell things cheaper, and the little family businesses find it almost impossible to compete.
Wise-Hamster-288@reddit
yep i can walk to several from my house. called mini marts or corner stores. they generally have some bread and produce and a dry/canned shelf but make most of their money from beer/wine. we also have some ethnic mini marts within walking distance which have their own unique selection.
airawyn@reddit
In SoCal, liquor stores often serve this function. They'll be called Liquor Mart or something and stock plenty of alcohol, but there'll also be a whole mini grocery store inside.
44035@reddit
That's basically what 7-11 is.
fried_clams@reddit
Our mini markets/convenience stores are not all big national or regional chains. I think that a very large percentage of them are though. There are many locally owned, owner operated mini markets. Most gas stations have a mini market also, although mostly just convenience foods, drinks, as opposed to staples.
Overall, there is a huge variability in convenience stores. Some urban ones might have a lot of staples, where some in a random town might have snacks, drinks, nicotine products and maybe alcohol also.
justadrtrdsrvvr@reddit
Everybody is saying convenience stores, they are what we would often consider corner markets or gas station stores. Generally, they sell junk food (chips, jerky, and candy), beverages (soda, beer, alcohol in some places, and other single serving drinks), and usually some hot deli food (fried chicken, some type of fries, corn dogs, and burritos), and tobacco products. Most people don't shop at these for meal type foods, unless they eat extremely unhealthy.
Horror-Morning864@reddit
In my area we have IGA Express. It's a gas station that has a deli, a small grocery area. You can even grab a ribeye for the grill, fresh fruit. Hygiene products too.You could live out of that place if it were your only option.
ReliabilityTalkinGuy@reddit
New York City has then. We refer to them as bodegas, but they generally don’t have seating for people to consume a beverage, etc.
NecessaryPopular1@reddit
Sounds more like a small bodega, mom & pop’s-like. In the US, even small, corner bodegas, food truck, home-based food shop, etc, still need an operating business license in order to operate legally though.
big_sugi@reddit
We don’t just have minimarts; we have a Super Mini Mart! There’s also AJ’s Tobacco and Minimart, as well as other stores—many of which have “mart” in the name.
It’s a very affluent Washington DC suburb, and these kinds of stores have mostly been priced out of existence as rents and costs go up, but there are still a few. As you go farther away from Washington DC, there are more of them.
Ringo-chan13@reddit
They sound like convenience stores, small selection and usually super expensive...
BlackEyedAngel01@reddit
Yes, there’s one 2 blocks from my house. It’s independent, family owned.
shelwood46@reddit
Yes of course, independent, franchises and corporate-owned chains. They have many many names depending on region, if they specialize (there are some specific ethnic mini-markets, indie and chain) and if they sell gas (many started as just mini-mart/convenience stores/delis/dairies, and added gas pumps later). They may have specialty stuff if they cater to a particular ethnicity, but I'd guess most people do their real shopping at a grocery store or equivalent and supplement from mini-marts, or just get emergency milk or morning coffee there. But I am not sure why you frown on chains, most of them started as local independent stores and got successful.
DrMindbendersMonocle@reddit
yes, they arent as small as that, but they are called corner stores and are usually individually owned. A lot of gas stations have something similar too
CrimsonJynx0@reddit
There's actually a Latin American mini market near me that fits your description. Love going to it.
GoodFriday10@reddit
Mom and Pop stores. Small neighborhood markets. My grandparents had one.
EloquentRacer92@reddit
Where I am, we don’t. The smallest stores we have are ampm‘s and 7/11’s, which are small-medium sized and have a lot of snacks. The nearest ampm is half an hour away from me, and 7/11 is even farther away.
RetractableLanding@reddit
In Wisconsin, Kwik Trip is like that, but they are also a gas station.
roomforathousand@reddit
Michigan here, we grew up calling them party stores. I'd never go there in anticipation of a party, but it is the place you go if you realize you need more ice.
North81Girl@reddit
Convenience stores? Bodegas?
mostlygray@reddit
That would be a bodega in NY. They also exist here and there in most towns. There's a tiny Ethiopian market by my house. There's a little Mexican mercado not far from me. Just small amounts of inventory and very basic things. Lots of spices at good prices. The Russian market is quite small too, they have a bakery attached which is nice.
The small stores tend to be tied to a very specific ethnicity. Like a Halal market that's tailored to specifically Somalis which is different from the Halal market that's specifically for Syrians.
CalmRip@reddit
We have convenience stores, which are usually owned by a corporation. When they are owned by private parties, we call them "mom and pop stores," or sometimes "corner stores," whether they're on a corner or not.
pixievixie@reddit
Some places have them, but most of America is SUPER "zoned" and little shops, even like convenience stores, aren't usually right in the residential areas. So we might have corner gas stations or 7-11 close, but not usually IN neighborhoods like in other countries. As one offs yes, it happens, there are some areas with a little shop in a neighborhood, but nothing like I've seen in Mexico, for example. I think you're describing something similar to the abarrotes they have there. Little shops with the regular everyday stuff, like small amounts of cheese, milk, soda, chips, bread, tortillas, dry goods like beans and rice, pasta, maybe some fruits and veggies, eggs sold individually, maybe a fridge with sour cream, yogurt, etc. coffee, maybe some pastries, and bigger ones might even sell fresh meat, and many have at least cold cuts. Plus, sundries like toothpaste, shampoo, small things of cleaner and dish or laundry soap. It's one of the BIGGEST things I miss about living in Mexico. And to be honest, sometimes I run into the smaller Mexican stores because even though they're not usually any closer to my house than the big grocery store, I don't have to wind through a huge maze in the giant supermarket to find what I need!
StinkyCheeseWomxn@reddit
It depends on the density of your neighborhood. We lived in an apartment building in one area that had lots of higher end restaurants/shops and foot traffic and we loved our little neighborhood "bodega" that was run by a family. They were a mini grocery store, but also had a few bottles of wine, sold lottery tickets, and were open early/late. They were our go-to spot for a forgotten ingredient for dinner or just to take a little walk and stop in to say hello and buy some beer. We've lived in more suburban areas where nothing like this exists for hundreds of miles because everything is driving-based and not walkable shopping. In surburban areas the neighborhoods are walkable and have sidewalks leading to a park or community pool, but not to stores or restaurants, for those you'd drive and then go to a large mega shopping chain store. There are convenience stores that combine gas, fast-food and a few grocery items but you drive there too, and they are usually major brands not really family businesses.
RNH213PDX@reddit
You mean like the KwikEMart on the Simpson. Yes. They are everywhere. Some are corporate, but often times they are franchises owned by immigrants or others working themselves up in this country.
ProfessionalEcho2681@reddit
Yes. Back in the 40's and 50's my grandma said they were called "Five and Dime" Today, as ppl said, they have lots of different names. In my area growing up, we simply called them the "corner store" but today, I just say mini market, my husband says convenience store, my kids say bodega.
nonother@reddit
Yes. They’re very common here in San Francisco.
VixxenFoxx@reddit
We call them convenience stores or corner stores (usually located on a corner). Some are chains, some are privately owned, some are a small chain owned by a family. Most also sell gasoline (to bring people in) but make the most money off of alcohol, cigarettes, milk and soda.
SippinOnnaBlunt@reddit
You described the “Corner Store”.
Queer_Advocate@reddit
Yes, CA has Bodega's.
chicagotim1@reddit
We have convenience stores . Not quite that small but much much smaller than a supermarket and similar .
thatisnotmyknob@reddit
Soooo many in NYC. Of all different ethnicities.
I love the Japanese ones with snacks and home goods. The Japanese have lots of good organizational stuff for small apartments.
I also got some great lassi cups and mangoes at an Indian mart.
Space is at a premium here we have more mini marts than big stores.
Current_Poster@reddit
Yeah. That's a "bodega" in NYC, and a "corner store" almost anywhere else.
shammy_dammy@reddit
Bodegas are the closest I can think of.
Vivid_Witness8204@reddit
They exist and are common in larger cities. In smaller cities and rural areas the family operated stores have become less common. You're more likely to find a chain convenience store or a Dollar General. The small, family run stores were more common 50 years ago.
No_Sir_6649@reddit
Yep. Prices are marked up so much they are last ditch.
_Silent_Android_@reddit
Yes, and depending on region they go by different names: mini-marts, convenience stores, bodegas, corner markets, package stores, liquor stores.
Foreign-Marzipan6216@reddit
We have corner stores around here. They’re usually family-owned and have the essentials plus beer. You’ll find them in the middle of a neighborhood in or out of town.
YoshiandAims@reddit
In cities, bodegas/corner stores.
In rural areas some of our gas stations I'd say are pretty close.
Jaymac720@reddit
We call them convenience stores. Some are chains, some are one-offs
freeze45@reddit
We do have some, but we do also have many owned by chains. In Northeast PA, we have Wawa's, which are convenience stores, similar to 7-11. At one time, many years ago, they started as a family owned business that turned into a franchise and now are considered a big corporation (not as big as 7-11, but you get the idea. There's over 1,000 locations.
You say that these stores you have are small, the size of one room, but could be considered warehouses? Or they are located in a part of a warehouse? A warehouse is a huge building- you would not describe a small convenience store or bodega as a warehouse. You would describe Wal-Mart, Costco, or Sam's Club as a warehouse due to their large size. There are very few stores like those, in that size range of a large warehouse, that would be family-owned.
big_data_mike@reddit
The gas stations you see with a large oil company name like BP, Shell, and Valero are sometimes a family owned convenience store with the oil company proving the gas pumps and signs. The owners get a tiny fraction of the gasoline sales and they make their money from selling food, beer, etc.
Most gas stations in cities have convenience stores that are also chains but when you go to more rural areas there will be convenience stores that sell more “homemade” style cooked food with an old creaky building and a name like “Rick’s minimart”
JennItalia269@reddit
We do but not ready to the frequency that I saw in Asunción when I was there, or Argentina during my several trips there.
Howie_Dictor@reddit
Yes, but now gas stations have taken over that need in a lot of neighborhoods. You can get fuel, alcohol, tobacco, milk, bread etc. And most of them also serve hot food now.
smut_slut_97153@reddit
In rural Appalachia, the types of stores you described are usually gas stations as well, at least ime
fetus-wearing-a-suit@reddit
I moved to San Diego (US) from Tijuana (Mexico). The answer is yes, but in a way smaller number. Stores like 7-Eleven often serve this function, or smaller supermarkets.
Enthusias_matic@reddit
All over the midwest there are independent grocery stores/butchers/convenience stores.
Slight_Literature_67@reddit
Yes, we do. Like, in my area, there are at least three that I know of within walking distance, but there are several throughout the city. There are some focused on produce and meat, others on bread and pastries, and others that have your basics and everyday items. We have quite a few mini markets that people from different ethnicities own. Like, one of my favorite mini markets is owned by a little old Indian and Vietnamese couple that carries a bunch of products from Asia, such as Korean cosmetics, Japanese snacks, Indian and Vietnamese spices, and Thai coffees. There's one a few towns over that my mom and I frequent that species in Italian food.
So, yes, we do have mini-markets and family-owned markets.
einsteinGO@reddit
Yes: corner store, bodega, mini-mart
GrowlingAtTheWorld@reddit
Beside the laundrymat in town is a butcher/small food store. And many small grocers are culturally themed like the Caribbean food mart or Latina Food Mart. You can find the basics and food that is more based around the tastes of a particular ethnic population.
Original_Ant7013@reddit
Gas stations are the most common forms of this, but not independently owned, because we drive every where and need gas to do so…..
anclwar@reddit
They're called bodegas, papi stores, or corner stores depending on where you are located. They might have other regional names, but those are the ones I am familiar with.
Salty_Permit4437@reddit
Yes they are called convenience stores.
sneezhousing@reddit
Corner stores, convince, bodega would be equivalent and not everywhere.
GhostOfJamesStrang@reddit
I think a bodega would fit your description.
ITrCool@reddit
Absolutely! My mother worked for one for a couple years before she went to college. A small downtown corner general store. It just had essentials and some groceries and that was it.
Limberpuppy@reddit
Yes
Night0wlGamer@reddit
Of course, we do!