Benny's Bodega
Benny's Bodega is a Sussex County, NJ nonprofit founded in 2019 that runs a free, store-style distribution of basic-needs items — food, clothing, hygiene, cleaning supplies, diapers, formula, pet food — to the ALICE employed population, veterans, and seniors (61+). Operations are 100% donation-funded, volunteer-driven, and delivered through a single physical storefront plus multi-stream fundraising events and corporate sponsorships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersAugusta, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Benny's Bodega does
Benny's Bodega is a private nonprofit social welfare organization founded in 2019 by Benjamin "Benny" Davey, LCSW, and headquartered at 5 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ 07822. It operates as a free "store" — set up like a retail environment — where qualifying visitors can shop for basic-needs items including food, clothing, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, diapers, wipes, formula, and pet food at no cost. Beneficiaries are the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population, military veterans, and senior citizens aged 61 and older, who access the store with photo ID and either a recent pay stub (employed, twice monthly) or proof of service / date of birth (veterans and seniors, once monthly). The organization runs with no government funding, operating 100% on donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, fundraising events, and in-kind item contributions, and is executed almost entirely by volunteers with a small paid or unpaid core team.
The product surface consists of the core "Bodega Free Store" plus the "Bodega Scan Card" loyalty/identification card and reusable "Bodega Bags" issued on first visit (replacement fees of $20 for scan cards and $5 per bag). Distribution is exclusively through the single physical storefront, open five days per week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday), with no appointment required. The company supplements its offering via curated Amazon Wish Lists that enable remote in-kind donations of commonly needed items.
The revenue model is a four-stream donation architecture: individual monetary donations (one-time and recurring monthly), corporate sponsorships (Wall of Fame plaques, delivery-vehicle side/back sponsorships, event sponsorships), in-kind item donations, and fundraising events including annual golf outings, tricky trays, 50/50 raffles, casino nights, rock-paper-scissors tournaments, and car giveaways. Go-to-market is community-led: beneficiary acquisition happens via word-of-mouth, community events, and partnerships with other local organizations, with no e-commerce or delivery channel for beneficiaries. Brand-building is executed through a Squarespace website, Facebook and Instagram profiles handled by co-founder Heather Davey, podcast appearances (Do Something More Podcast 2026, WRNJ Radio, Big State Sports), and recurring earned media in Woman's World Magazine, ABC News, NJ Herald, and local outlets.
Benny's Bodega firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Benny's Bodega
- Legal name
- Benny's Bodega
- Website
- https://bennysbodega.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Benny's Bodega is a Sussex County, NJ nonprofit founded in 2019 that runs a free, store-style distribution of basic-needs items — food, clothing, hygiene, cleaning supplies, diapers, formula, pet food — to the ALICE employed population, veterans, and seniors (61+). Operations are 100% donation-funded, volunteer-driven, and delivered through a single physical storefront plus multi-stream fundraising events and corporate sponsorships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Benny's Bodega industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Social Services
- NAICS
- Community Food Services (62421), Convenience Retailers and Vending Machine Operators (44513), Grocery and Convenience Retailers (4451)
- SIC
- Retail-Food Stores (5400), Retail-Convenience Stores (5412), Retail-Misc General Merchandise Stores (5399)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bodega/Corner Stores (Urban Convenience) (CRANAJAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ethnic Convenience & Bodega-Style Stores (CRAHAFAN), Neighborhood Essentials & Fill-in Shopping Discount Stores (CRAEAJAH)
Keywords
Where Benny's Bodega is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Augusta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Benny's Bodega business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Monetary donations from individuals, both one-time and recurring monthly donors. Donations help pay rent, utilities, insurance, lawyer and accountant fees, and buy items when donations get low.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorships through Wall of Fame plaques, truck sponsorships (side, back sponsors), and event sponsorships for golf outings, tricky trays, and other fundraisers.
- Item Donations: In-kind donations of basic needs items including food, clothing, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, diapers, wipes, formula, pet food, and pet supplies.
- Fundraising Events: Revenue from organized events including golf outings, tricky trays, 50/50 raffles, casino nights, rock paper scissors tournaments, car giveaways, and other community events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free service for qualifying ALICE, veteran, and senior populations |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Benny's Bodega product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Benny's Bodega operates a free storefront at 5 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ, where qualifying members of the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population, veterans, and seniors aged 61+ can "shop" at no cost for basic needs items including food, clothing, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, diapers, wipes, formula, and pet food. The organization is sustained 100% by donations and volunteer support, with no government funding.
Product overview
Benny's Bodega is a nonprofit community organization that operates as a free store offering basic needs items to qualifying individuals. The core offering is the Bodega Free Store where ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population members, veterans, and seniors aged 61+ can "shop" for free. The organization supplements this with Bodega Scan Cards and Bodega Bags for visitor identification and item transport, and maintains Amazon Wish Lists to facilitate donor contributions of essential supplies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Benny's Bodega Free Store
Companies that use Benny's Bodega
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Benny's Bodega technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Benny's Bodega partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.
- Tranquility FarmcoreLocal farm participating in the Bushel of Hope program, pledging to provide fresh produce to the Bodega every single week during the growing season. Committed partner in both 2024 and 2025 programs.
- Ideal FarmcoreLocal farm committed to the Bushel of Hope program, providing fresh produce weekly to the Bodega in 2024 and 2025.
- Valley Brook FarmcoreLocal farm pledging weekly fresh produce donations through the Bushel of Hope program in 2024 and 2025.
- Local SharecoreLocal farm participating in Bushel of Hope program, providing weekly fresh produce donations in 2024 and 2025.
- Long Meadow FarmsupportingFarm partner in 2024 Bushel of Hope program providing fresh produce donations.
- Degroot Family FarmsupportingFarm partner in 2024 Bushel of Hope program contributing fresh produce.
- Pochuck Valley FarmsupportingFarm partner in 2024 Bushel of Hope program providing fresh produce donations.
- Lentini FarmsupportingFarm partner in 2024 Bushel of Hope program providing fresh produce donations.
- DeBoer's AutosupportingBack truck sponsor for the Bodega delivery vehicle; owner Bill DeBoer serves on the Board of Directors.
- Kristin Soehl Family ChiropracticsupportingBack truck sponsor for the Bodega delivery vehicle.
- R&T Nautilus Fitness CentersupportingBack truck sponsor; co-owner Terri Dicks serves on the Board of Directors.
- Evey's Nail SalonminorBack truck sponsor for Bodega delivery vehicle.
- It Starts Today CounselingsupportingBack truck sponsor; founded by Benjamin Davey (Bodega founder).
- Up & Above Contractors LLCminorBack truck sponsor for Bodega delivery vehicle.
- Apex Recruiting & ConsultingminorBack truck sponsor for Bodega delivery vehicle.
- Stickles Pond Light ShowminorBack truck sponsor for Bodega delivery vehicle.
- A Brighter Star Therapy GroupminorBack truck sponsor for Bodega delivery vehicle; contact Sandee Garrett.
- The Spa Shop & Pool Supply CenterminorBack truck sponsor for Bodega delivery vehicle.
- Lynette DeLisa - Realty ExecutivessupportingSide truck sponsor for Bodega delivery vehicle.
- Provident BanksupportingSide truck sponsor for Bodega delivery vehicle.
- Charity OilsupportingCompany that donates 5 cents per gallon of oil sold to charity; the Bodega is one of their designated charity recipients. Customers can order oil through charityoil.com with proceeds benefiting the Bodega.
- Sussex County MinerssupportingProfessional baseball team that hosts annual Casino Night events benefiting Benny's Bodega.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Benny's Bodega competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey: Nonprofit providing basic needs items, workforce development, and community support in the NY/NJ region. Comparable as a donation-funded nonprofit operating in the same New Jersey geography, though with a broader workforce and retail focus.
- Feeding America: Nationwide network of food banks serving communities across the U.S. Comparable to Benny's Bodega as it addresses the same ALICE/low-income population through food distribution, but operates at vastly larger scale and through a network model.
- The Salvation Army: National nonprofit providing food, shelter, and basic needs assistance to vulnerable populations including veterans and seniors. Comparable mission overlap with Benny's Bodega's ALICE, veteran, and senior segments, though with much broader service portfolio.
- Catholic Charities (Diocese of Paterson): Faith-based social services organization serving northern New Jersey, including food pantries and emergency assistance. Comparable in geography (Sussex County region) and in providing free basic needs items to vulnerable populations.
Direct peers
- City Harvest: New York-based food rescue and distribution organization that collects surplus food and distributes it free to people in need. Comparable operating model (donation-funded, free distribution, basic needs focus) though serving a different urban geography.
- Food Bank of New Jersey: Regional food bank serving New Jersey that distributes food to people in need through partner pantries and programs. Highly comparable to Benny's Bodega as a community-facing food assistance organization operating in the same geography (NJ).
- Plainsboro Food Pantry (and similar community food pantries): Community-based food pantries scattered across New Jersey that distribute free basic needs items to qualifying local residents. Most directly comparable to Benny's Bodega in scale, mission, and target population, though smaller-scale and pantry-style.
Emerging players
- Martha's Table: Washington DC-based nonprofit operating free storefronts and food programs for families experiencing poverty. Closely comparable to Benny's Bodega's 'set up like a store' free-shopping model for ALICE-eligible families.
Regional players
- Norwescap / Sussex County social services: Northwest New Jersey Community Action Program serving low-income residents in Sussex County and surrounding areas with food, housing, and support services. Directly comparable as it serves the same Sussex County ALICE population that Benny's Bodega targets.
- Albertson Outreach / Northern NJ Food Pantries: Network of local community food pantries serving northern New Jersey. Comparable to Benny's Bodega in serving low-income Sussex County-area residents via free in-person distribution, though as traditional pantry-style operations rather than a store-format.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Benny's Bodega social profiles
Digital presenceBenny's Bodega financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Benny's Bodega leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Benny's Bodega funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Benny's Bodega M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Benny's Bodega
What does Benny's Bodega do?
Benny's Bodega operates a free storefront at 5 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ, where qualifying members of the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population, veterans, and seniors aged 61+ can "shop" at no cost for basic needs items including food, clothing, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, diapers, wipes, formula, and pet food. The organization is sustained 100% by donations and volunteer support, with no government funding.
Is Benny's Bodega a public or private company?
Benny's Bodega is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Benny's Bodega founded?
Benny's Bodega was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Benny's Bodega based?
Benny's Bodega is headquartered in Augusta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Benny's Bodega make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, item Donations and fundraising Events.
Who are Benny's Bodega's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, Feeding America, The Salvation Army and Catholic Charities (Diocese of Paterson). Direct peers are City Harvest, Food Bank of New Jersey and Plainsboro Food Pantry (and similar community food pantries). Martha's Table is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are Norwescap / Sussex County social services and Albertson Outreach / Northern NJ Food Pantries.
Does Benny's Bodega have an API?
No public API is recorded for Benny's Bodega.
What industry is Benny's Bodega in?
Benny's Bodega's product category is Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRANAJAD, Bodega/Corner Stores (Urban Convenience), with a secondary code of CRAHAFAN, Ethnic Convenience & Bodega-Style Stores. Its NAICS code is 62421 and its SIC code is 5400.