BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
History was made in the Morrisania
section of the Bronx on Feb. 20 with
the grand opening of the borough’s fi rst
Black-owned bodega at 231 East 167th
St.
Former record label executive Alize
(Lenny) Jones opened ‘Black Bodega’
with his partners, brother Robert
Forbes and childhood friend Rusheed
Nash because they were tired of the economic
disparities in their community
which was hit hard by COVID-19.
While it was scary to open a new
business during a pandemic, the Bronx
natives knew that they had to give back
to the neighborhood they grew up in and
bring jobs to a community that has one
of the highest unemployment rates in
New York City.
Nash shared how they had talked
about opening up a black-owned bodega
in the past and admitted that it was a
funny thought back then.
“But the pandemic wasn’t funny,”
Nash said. “It really set people back;
people had a hard time last year. So we
wanted to do something in a serious way
to try to alleviate some of that. We are
defi nitely going to give jobs and help the
community to get through it. We just
want to give back the best way we can.”
The full-service deli and convenience
store is open 24 hours and offers moderately
priced food, including the Bronx
Chopped Cheese, a sandwich with
chopped hamburger meat and cheese
— considered a bodega staple — salad
bowls, smoothies, as well as household
goods. The store has nine employees
who are from the community and work
eight-hour shifts.
Jules, who grew up in the neighborhood
and works as a cashier at Black Bodega,
shared that he was excited to have
a full-time job, especially during the
pandemic.
“A lot of people are out of jobs. A lot
of people are suffering. I’m blessed,” he
declared.
Councilmember Vanessa Gibson
joined the celebration and expressed
how important it was to have blackowned
businesses that invest in their
community to build economic wealth
and growth, especially during this challenging
time.
“We have something to celebrate in
the midst of a storm. We can smile and
say we have a new business. That’s the
best investment we can ever make as a
community and as a borough,” she said. Alize (Lenny) Jones said that the
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
bodega was something the community
needed, especially since many businesses
had to close because of the pandemic
and so many people lost their jobs.
“The motive at fi rst wasn’t really the fi -
nances which is the driving inspiration
of mostly every business. We said if we
make a difference fi rst, then the reward
will come behind doing the right thing
for good people,” he explained.
“We were born and raised here, so
it feels good to bring something back
to the community,” his brother Robert
Forbes added.
Jones also shared that they have
plans to branch out to other boroughs
since bodegas are a staple of New York
City culture and are opening a juice bar
in the summer.
Grammy-award nominated rapper
and Bronx native Peter Gunz, who
stars on the reality TV show “Love and
Hip Hop,” stopped by in support of his
friends. He ordered a chopped cheese
with lettuce, tomatoes, vinegar, and
pepper and joked around with the chef
to hurry up because he had a train to
catch.
He said it was a historic moment for
the Bronx to have its fi rst Black-owned
bodega, whose logo features a black cat
as an homage to bodega cats all over the
city.
“As kids, we didn’t have role models
to go look at and say wow, they opened
up a business, a store, a bodega. That
was a far reach for a Black kid growing
up in the Bronx. Now the kids get to see
young black men open up a bodega.
So hopefully, this is the start of many
Black-owned bodegas,” Gunz said.
FAMILY COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
COUNTY OF THE BRONX
Docket # NN-10764-5/20
SUMMONS
In the Matter of
MIA ESPINAL
LEONARDO ESPIINAL
A Child(ren) Under Eighteen Years Alleged to be Neglected by
ISABEL TEJEDA
RAY ESPINAL
Respondent(s)
BRONX FAMILY COURT
1-347-378-4143
PART B- CONFERENCE ID – 786622481#
Meeting Link, http://notify.nycourts.gov/meet/agqmtn
PLEASE CALL NUMBER ABOVE ON DATE AND TIME STATED BELOW.
NOTICE: PLACEMENT OF YOUR CHILD IN FOSTER CARE MAY RESULT IN YOUR LOSS OF YOUR
RIGHTS TO YOUR CHILD. IF YOUR CHILD STAYS IN FOSTER CARE FOR 15 OF THE MOST RECENT
22 MONTHS, THE AGENCY MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO FILE A PETITION TO TERMINATE YOUR
PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO COMMIT GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILD TO THE
AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION. IN SOME CASES, THE AGENCY MAY FILE BEFORE
THE END OF THE 15-MONTH PERIOD. IF SEVERE OR REPEATED CHILD ABUSE IS PROVEN BY
CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE, THIS FINDING MAY CONSTITUTE THE BASIS TO TERMINATE
YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS AND TO COMMIT GUARDIANSHIP AND CUSTODY OF YOUR CHILD TO
THE AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF ADOPTION.
TO: RAY ESPINAL
2728 MARION AVENUE, APT. F1
BRONX, NY, 10458
A petition under ARTICLE 10 of the FAMILY COURT ACT having been filed with this court alleging that the
above-named child(ren) is a neglected child(ren), a copy of said petition being annexed hereto:
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to appear before this court at 900 Sheridan Avenue, Bronx, New York
10451, Part B , on MARCH 10, 2021, at 09:30 o'clock AM in the forenoon of said day to answer the petition
and to show cause why said child(ren) should not be adjudicated to be a neglected child(ren) and why you
should not be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of ARTICLE 10 of the FAMILY COURT ACT and
why an order of support under SECTION 235 of the FAMILY COURT ACT should not be made if the final
disposition is an order of placement.
On your failure to appear as herein directed, a warrant may be issued for your arrest.
FURTHER NOTICE: Family Court Act §154(c) provides that petitions brought pursuant to Articles 4,5,6,8
and 10 of the Family Court Act, in which an order of protection is sought or in which a violation of an order
of protection is alleged, may be served outside the State of New York upon a Respondent who is not a
resident or domiciliary of the State of New York. If no other grounds for obtaining personal jurisdiction over
the Respondent exist aside from the application of this provision, the exercise of personal jurisdiction over
the respondent is limited to the issue of the request for, or alleged violation of, the order of protection. Where
the Respondent has been served with this summons and petition and does not appear, the Family Court
may proceed to a hearing with respect to issuance or enforcement of the order of protection.
THOMAS STAUCH, ESQ
D
ated:01/22/21
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, F 34 EB. 26-MAR. 4, 2021 BTR
THE CITY CLERK
OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
Pursuant to provisions of Section 25(b)(1) of the Charter of the City of New
NOTICE O OF SPECIAL ELECTION
o
York,York notice notice is is here
hereby given that a special election will be held in the
Borough of Bronx, County of Bronx, on Tuesday, March 23, 2021,
between the hours of 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM for the purpose of electing a
candidate for the 11th Councilmanic District. Only registered voters in this
district are eligible to vote.
For any information on whether you are eligible to vote or where your poll
site is located, please call (212) V-O-T-E-N-Y-C. TDD for the hearingimpaired
is (212) 487-5496.
The City Clerk of the City of New York
Black Bodega in Morrisania
celebrates grand opening, brings
jobs to struggling Bronxites
/agqmtn
/agqmtn