Monday, July 28, 2008

This Thing On Bodegas Is Like That Thing On Bodegas

So saw this thing on the Gawk:

Did you know that your corner store (aka bodega) probably sells a lot more than ho hos and beer? Perhaps even fresh produce.

Hmm, sounds similar in spirit to my thing written for Gawker:

On the surface you might think the Corner Bodega (Co-Bo) is just another wiki-able oasis of convenience. A sort of de facto ghetto 7-11. But, like the big rock in the forest, a look underneath reveals a self-sufficient ecosystem of subterranean life. Home of the 2 for $1 special, the Corner Bodega is the ghetto chamber of food and commerce for marginalized gentri-folk and ne'er-do-wells alike. Typically open through the wee hours, and stocked with all the bare essentials — food, alcohol, horny-goat weed — Corner Bodegas are not only a full service resource, but a genuine lifesaver.

Of course mine was a column/feature-y type thing, and theirs is an actual business model. Or something? But I happily refer them to other sections of the Ghetto Pass series so they can arrange parties at Ghetto Chinese Spots, or with Ghetto Pick-up Artists, and not just single out the Bodegas.

Also: their choice of dropping the word "Ghetto" in favor of "Neighbors" and phrasing like, "people living in cities who want to connect with their diverse neighbors to improve the neighborhood for everyone." Brilliant!

I'm not being overly tongue-in-cheek here. It is a cool idea. And some crew of gentrifying multicultis had to do it. I just want to make sure they keep their "papis" and "habibis" straight and not forget the Chicken Spot and other Urban-Neighborhood Landmarks. Holla if you need help.

Please Buy This Gentrification Kit [Gawker]
Bodega Party In A Box [Neighbors Project]
Ghetto Pass: Corner Bodegas [Gawker]

3 comments:

  1. Hey, glad we're thinking along the same lines. Definitely feel free to school us whenever.

    Kit Hodge
    CEO, Neighbors Project

    ReplyDelete
  2. TAN, I am a huge fan of you and your Ghetto Pass series. That is why I'm so appreciative that you can the overall picture/motivation behind this project. No condescending, annoying white folks are steering the Bodega Party in a Box (I swear.)

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bodega? Gentrification? I feel like I need re-education.

    ReplyDelete

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