It’s easy to take them for granted, but they’re the ones who nourish and revitalize our days through the joy of food. Local delis and food service businesses save people from having to wake up early to make breakfast and can satisfy a person’s hungry craving. Most of the time, the staff at these places learn the ability to make orders quickly, while also getting to know the customer’s food preferences. 

Here are a couple of  NYC local food workers’ daily lives out of the desert by spotlighting Miguel Flores and Leonardo Hernandez from Bagel Bobs shop, located in 1641 York Ave, New York,

Miguel’s Story:

During the pandemic, Miguel was unemployed and was searching for a job.Through a friend’s recommendation, he was able to find a position at Bagel Bobs. From the day he began working, it was easy for him to adapt to the job because he developed great communication with his coworkers and opened his mind to learning new concepts. 

Behind the counter, everyday at 8am, Miguel Flores stands in a white buttoned down t-shirt, a black cap, with an eager smile. His smile reflects his enthusiasm to work at the shop because he has a strong relationship with his coworkers and they make his day go by faster. As he states in Spanish, “Somos cómo una familia,” [We are like a family]. Before the first customer walks in, he checks if the surfaces are clean and he clears out any garbage. Then he begins to make orders or food deliveries. When he encounters a client who is in a rush or in an unpleasant mood, he makes sure to attend to them rapidly, ensuring their attitude doesn’t affect the course of his day. There are also daily customers with whom he enjoys interacting with because he can laugh or joke around with them at ease. While working, Miguel makes an effort in remembering the customer’s names and their usual orders, believing it’s important to provide them with the best service. At around 12pm, Miguel and his coworkers head to lunch in the shop’s basement and they spend the time laughing and enjoying each other’s company.

Miguel says goodbye to his coworkers at 5pm. Then, he gets onto his bicycle, secures his helmet and rides home. His cooking knowledge follows him home, since his family repeatedly asks him to cook pasta. When he’s not at home, he goes out to different places with his family, such as Governors Island. 

Miguel acknowledges that there aren’t many difficulties that come with working at the shop and that it’s generally safe. There are minor accidents that could occur, such as being burnt by the oven when cooking bagels. However, when delivering orders, he also faces the risks of being hit by a car or assaulted while handing over the food. Despite these dangers, Miguel builds the courage everyday to face these risks.

Miguel Flores leaves us with this message to think about whenever we enter a deli or local food store, “No venir de mal humor porque nos hace el dia mal,” which translates to — “Don’t come in a bad mood because it ruins our day.”

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Leonardo’s Story:

Around 24 years ago, when Leonardo was searching for employment, he found a position at Bagel Bobs. When he began working, he first had to take hygiene courses to learn about hygiene norms and food protection. Over time, Leonardo also had to learn names of all the food options and develop attentiveness when taking down customer orders. During this process of adjusting to the job, he missed his family that wasn’t here to support him.

Sharp at 8am, Leonardo walks into the shop looking forward to interacting with the customers and learning about their lives. Once he is settled into his work uniform, he checks the coffee machines and begins to prepare the bagels. In every customer order, Leonardo puts a touch of love to the food by imagining that he’s preparing it for his family. When he notices that a customer doesn’t seem to be having a great day, he makes sure to cook the order rapidly and hopes that the food will brighten their day. Leonardo states in Spanish, “Quiero que el cliente salga mas feliz con su comida,” [I want the customer to leave happier with their food]. There are also customers that Leonardo has known for years and has even witnessed them grow from young adolescents into adults. Such customers are easy to talk and joke around with. Throughout the day, Leonardo instills communication with his coworkers when discussions and stress begin to arise between them. He believes it’s crucial to understand each other in order to create quality food. Then, when the clock’s handle reaches 1pm, Leonardo takes his lunch break.

At 4pm, Leonardo clocks out of work and walks to the train station. From there, he takes an hour-long train ride to arrive home. Throughout his freetime, he enjoys photography, videotaping, and taking his dog out for a walk. In a year, Leonardo also dreams of creating his own photography business because he has realized that it’s time to “dedicarme a lo mio” [dedicate myself to my thing].

A mild challenge Miguel encounters is when a client who is in an unpleasant mood or doesn’t explain their order correctly. Miguel also wishes to spend more time with his family because he feels that his schedule at Bagel Bobs doesn’t allow him to do so.

An important message from Leonardo Hernandez to all the deli and local food store customers is, “Tengan paciencia con los empleados porque no todos tenemos la misma habilidad para tomar las órdenes,” which translates to — “Please be patient with the employees because not all of us have the same ability to take orders.”