This little deli and grocery in downtown D.C. always reminds me of the spanish bodegas back in NYC.
The smallish store has just a couple of aisles of stuffed shelves of all sort of fast food eatsies.
Usually not very organized, but more like you see something from all the grab it type foods and drinks and just go for it.
Signs are handwritten and taped on to shelves, doors, and counters.
Food packages jut out from shelves into the aisles and frequently get knocked down by customers on to the floors of the narrower aisles.
Pour your own cup of coffee or softdrink.
Sandwiches in the back are freshly made while you wait and come heaping with toppings and the price written with a black marker on the celaphane wrapping.
The store is laidback and informal with the proprietor at the counter reading from his newspaper as people come by to check out and he looks up between paragraphs.
Very working class and for students in the area, the lines can get long to the door at lunch hour.
A little unkept and no place to sit and dawdle--this is a get in and get out little neighborhood store.
A big contrast with the cookie-cutter chain stores and franchises--this is mom and pop style. ;-)
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)