2024 | At Home in the Store: Understanding Urban Migrant Experience and Belonging Through Corner-Stores and their Material Cultures

Rhode Island School of Design

ABSTRACT:

Bodegas play a crucial role in improving food access, particularly in areas lacking full-service grocery stores. They serve as cultural hubs, reflecting diverse heritages and fostering community connections. My research explores the spatial design, cultural significance, and social functions of bodegas, highlighting their contributions to community resilience.

Through interviews with bodega owners and customers in Providence, RI my study reveals insights into their operations, challenges, and aspirations, while also addressing the impacts of gentrification and displacement. My work advocates for the recognition of bodegas as essential public infrastructure.

Referenced: Black Food Geographies, Cultural Sustainability, Gentrification, Caribbeanness

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