Prince came with the shop when ownership changed and has spent twelve years at the same SoHo bodega.
He once killed two birds in front of witnesses, then walked back inside and went to sleep like nothing happened. Regulars still talk about it. The story gets retold at the counter with the same cadence every time, the details slightly different depending on who is telling it.
Every day he walks next door for cheese from the pizza guys. They know each other's routine, though nobody arranged the schedule.
Prince was featured in the New York Times, but it did not change how he operates. He ignores cameras and strangers and keeps the spot where he has watched more than a decade of rising rents, moving neighbors, and changing storefronts.
Twelve years is a long time in a city that replaces things constantly. Most restaurants do not last twelve years. Some buildings do not. Prince has outlasted awnings, leases, and entire neighborhood identities.
His long presence on the block is what makes him memorable.
From the StoriesPrince's story appears in Bodega Cats of New York, out November 3, 2026.
Published October 26, 2025
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