Bodegas TV Launches NYC's First In-Store Video Network, Aiming to Modernize Corner Stores Without Displacement
Bodegas TV debuted NYC's first in-store video network at the Bodega & Small Business Innovation Summit, outlining a 'Sovereign Bodega' framework to integrate technology while preserving cultural identity.
Bodegas TV launched New York City's first in-store video network on June 4, 2026, at the #NYTechWeek Bodega & Small Business Innovation Summit, signaling a new chapter for the city's iconic corner stores. The event, held at the Stuyvesant Yacht Club in The Bronx, brought together over 100 bodega owners, startup founders, investors, and technologists to explore the “Sovereign Bodega” framework—a strategy to modernize digital infrastructure without eroding the cultural identity that makes bodegas essential to their communities.
The network, bodegas.tv, is a smart-screen video platform that delivers hyper-local media, advertising, and AI-curated content directly to the point of purchase. Targeting Latino and urban communities, the initiative aims to tap into the $45 billion in annual spending at NYC's corner stores. Organizers plan to expand the network to 500 bodegas by the end of 2026 and 2,000 within three years.
Co-hosted by the Bodega & Small Business Group (BSBG), Cortes Global Equity Partners, and others, the summit featured panels on four pillars of modernization: Media Tech & AI, FinTech, Security, and Infrastructure. Panelists included Andre Ureña of Centro AI, Milbert Kiggundu-Bentham of Alvix Advisory, and Steve Yanovsky, a media innovation veteran who co-founded DriverTV, the automotive industry's first contextual video-on-demand network, acquired by NBCUniversal.
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson emphasized the role of bodegas in building relationships and creating jobs. “Our bodegas are always open. They are the ones who are building relationships, community, and they are the ones creating jobs,” she said. Carlos Collado of the National Supermarket Association added, “Technology is something we can all integrate into our businesses. We are in every corner and we are here to stay.”
Ozzie Cortes, Founder & CEO of Cortes Global Equity Partners and an advisor on the project, highlighted the community's commitment. “Bodegas are institutions that are highly community focused. I’m amazed by the level of support from all the participants and bodega owners and people who are part of Tech Week, and the amount of commitment and resolve to protect bodegas. People really love and care about bodegas, this is the beginning for bodegas to involve more technology,” he said.
The summit explored how decentralized broadcasting, intelligent automation, integrated financial systems, and AI-powered security can help bodegas thrive in a digital economy without displacing their cultural roots. The Bodega & Small Business Group, led by President Francisco Marte, represents thousands of NYC bodega owners and served as the community anchor for the initiative.