# Ground-floor retail?

By [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com) · 2023-07-16

bodega, coffee-shop, deli, deli-counter, depanneur, grocery-store, ground-floor, retail, urban-amenities, urbanism

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I recently asked this on Twitter:

> _You live in an apartment/condominium. If you could pick one ideal use/tenant for the ground floor of your building, what would it be?_

And a number of people [responded](https://twitter.com/donnelly_b/status/1680438493963583488?s=20).

But I suppose I should also answer my own question.

I lean more towards utility. My ideal use -- assuming an urban storefront -- is not a fancy restaurant or a super cool coffee shop. It would be some sort of quality bodega that:

*   Sells essential grocery needs (milk, eggs, toilet paper, etc.)
    
*   Sells wine & beer
    
*   Has a deli/food counter where you can buy a breakfast bagel, a sandwich for lunch, or a quick dinner when you're in a pinch
    
*   And, yes, has pretty good coffee
    

It would also need to be open early and late: 7am to 12am, please.

What would you want?

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*Originally published on [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com/ground-floor-retail)*