Bodega’s are not just a part of New Yorkers’ daily routine, where they go out for morning coffee and breakfast and stop for their favorite snacks on the way home. A bodegas is the cornerstone of a community and part of a mosaic of people. New York, the one who makes New York.
For generations, these neighborhood fixtures have thrived thanks to New York City’s bustling residents, workers, and tourists that kept the economy pumping. And like many small businesses, it devastated bodegas (many of which are immigrant-owned).
But unlike many other small businesses and restaurants that qualify for PPP loans and unemployment assistance, Bodega has had to fend for itself. Although they were technically qualified, several barriers prevented them from accessing the valuable assistance provided to thousands of businesses.
Faced with the prospect of closing their businesses and thereby potentially losing their families and communities, many bodega owners turned to delivery services as a way to survive.
For many businesses, delivery platforms have provided the tools and resources they need in times of unprecedented uncertainty and persecution. Part of this reality stems from the obstacles that have prevented them from securing financial support. From the language barrier that makes navigating the complex bureaucracy nearly impossible to the lack of relationships with financial institutions that can help with PPP loans, these business owners are helping manage the dire economic situation. Failed to access resource.
This lack of government economic relief and transition to a convenient economy drives much of our work at the Yemen American Merchants Association (YAMA) today. Change is constant in New York. Our goal is to help businesses meet new challenges and competitive pressures by helping to support policies that level the playing field and access new tools, technologies, or partnerships that help improve economic prospects. to help you get through.
The New York City skyline looks different than it did pre-pandemic. Changes in how people live and work are impacting the daily traffic of many small businesses, disrupting the lifeblood of bodegas in particular. This change means that more and more bodegas are trying to grow from mere corner stores into convenience economies.
There’s no question that New Yorkers demonstrate an insatiable appetite for deliveries. When I talk to small businesses, they don’t want to go back to a world without deliveries. That’s why it’s so important to ensure that your local bodegas are successful and have the tools to break through the barriers they may face in moving to the digital marketplace.
It concerns us every time a new business parachutes into our community and ignores the importance of reaching out to the local merchants and residents who have been here for decades. No need to knock, call or email. Just set up shop without worrying about how it affects the community. It’s not just the antithesis of New York, it’s also anti-New York.
However, YAMA recognized the importance of delivery and wanted a partner who could enhance their business with the technology and tools they needed to compete in the 21st century economy. For example, we’ve been partnering with DoorDash for over two years now helping members understand their business and members understanding their business.
This thoughtful approach has allowed us to educate them on the unique issues facing the bodega community, from lack of pandemic relief to gentrification, inventory management and payment processes. We are on the company’s Small Business Advisory Board. This is an opportunity to share our perspectives and provide feedback on how DoorDash can best serve small businesses in our city.
The effort not only deepened understanding, but also offered platforms and bodegas something unusual in today’s economy: a win-win. We hope that it will serve as a model for how we should distinguish between individuals.
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