Bodegas TV Launches NYC’s First In-Store Video Network, Aiming to Modernize Corner Stores Without Displacement

On June 4, 2026, at the #NYTechWeek Bodega & Small Business Innovation Summit, Bodegas TV launched NYC’s first in-store video network, bodegas.tv, marking a significant step in modernizing the city’s corner stores. The Summit, co-hosted by the Bodega & Small Business Group (BSBG) and Cortes Global Equity Partners, convened over 100 bodega owners, startup founders, investors, and technologists at the Stuyvesant Yacht Club in the Bronx to explore the “Sovereign Bodega” framework—a strategy for digital modernization that respects and preserves the cultural identity of these community staples.

The network, described as a smart-screen video network, will deliver hyper-local media, advertising campaigns, and AI-curated content directly to the point of purchase. Targeting Latino and urban communities, the initiative taps into the $45 billion in annual spending in NYC’s corner stores. The launch at NYTechWeek signals the beginning of a planned expansion to 500 bodegas by the end of 2026, with a goal of reaching 2,000 bodegas within three years.

Panels at the Summit covered four pillars of bodega modernization: Media Tech & AI, FinTech, Security, and Infrastructure. These discussions focused on transforming storefronts into hyper-local media hubs, deploying integrated financial systems, implementing AI-powered security, and synchronizing inventory and data across locations. Notable panelists included Andre Ureña, Co-Founder of Centro AI; Milbert Kiggundu-Bentham, former Bank of America executive; and Steve Yanovsky, media innovation veteran who co-founded DriverTV, acquired by NBCUniversal.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson emphasized the community role of bodegas: “Our bodegas are always open. They are the ones who are building relationships, community, and they are the ones creating jobs.” 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 of Cortes Global Equity Partners noted, “I’m amazed by the level of support… and the amount of commitment and resolve to protect bodegas.”

The Bodega & Small Business Group (BSBG), led by President Francisco Marte, represents thousands of NYC bodega owners and serves as the community anchor for the initiative. Cortes Global Equity Partners, LLC, whose founder Ozzie Cortes is also an Investor & Advisor on the Bodegas TV project, co-hosted the event. The implications of this launch are far-reaching: by integrating smart-screen networks into bodegas, the initiative aims to create new revenue streams for small business owners while preserving the cultural fabric of these essential community hubs. This model could serve as a blueprint for modernizing other small businesses in urban areas across the country.