Bodega Bros has created a corner store experience with an NYC twist that Ann Arbor locals have welcomed with open arms. Owner Esam Almulaiki was inspired by feedback from New York customers to recreate an “authentic New York Bodega” tailored specifically for the University community. The store offers a range of lunch items including deli sandwiches, omelettes, and smoothies as well as drinks and snacks. In an aim to replicate the united feel they experienced in NY City Bodega Brother’s hours may expand to an impressive 24/7 choice for customers.
Bodega Bros opened its doors on North University Avenue to a proud and positive response from the University community. The store’s operating hours are currently 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., but to replicate an NYC essential corner store, they hope to eventually expand their hours to 24/7. Owner Esam Almulaiki was inspired to create an “authentic New York Bodega” after hearing feedback from customers at his other locations in New York City.
Customers had expressed a desire for an Ann Arbor location, and Almulaiki decided to take a chance and open one. The bodega specializes in deli and convenience store items such as snacks, drinks, and groceries. With a variety of sandwiches, omelets, and smoothies on the menu, Bodega Bros is prepared to make anything customers may request, provided they have the necessary ingredients.
Almulaiki hopes his bodega will bring the same sense of community and togetherness as he experienced in New York, where customers from different cultures come together to build relationships.
The bodega’s proximity to the Diag means that U-M students have easy access to fresh groceries, hot meals, and any other items they may need. This has excited local Ann Arbor resident Tonya Huffman, who is thrilled to have this new option for the U-M community.
LSA sophomore Elicia Chatman also has praised the bodega, noting how it opens up food options and provides a comforting space for those used to city life. The bodega is providing a much-needed resource for students, giving them the ability to purchase items they wouldn’t find elsewhere in Ann Arbor.
Papaioannou, an out-of-state University of Michigan student from New York, has shared how the bodega brings a touch of his home to campus. He commented “Every time I’d go to lunch, I’d go to a bodega. Now that they have one in Ann Arbor, it’s very cool… Walking in just feels kind of like home.”
In the end, Bodega Brothers has seen an overwhelmingly positive response by the University of Michigan community. With an abundance of deli and convenience items, the store is set to continue offering great customer service, quality products, and a “New York Bodega” experience. Esam Almulaiki aims to bring together customers from diverse backgrounds with the shared belief that nothing can replace the sense of camaraderie experienced in a corner store like Bodega Brothers––whether it be serendipitously running into a friend or visiting a shop you call home. Bodega Bros looks to provide just that: a place for people of all cultures to come together as one.
