Candy stores are another means of survival for Bangladeshis in New York
Title
Candy stores are another means of survival for Bangladeshis in New York
Vtmbh article article file
Vtmbh article article order
2
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Vtmbh article blurb
Leasing a candy store is a small but profitable venture; its appealing to more and more Bangladeshis. Now Bangladeshis lease, run and work in most of the candy stores around the city. But the workers, who are mostly newcomers, make little and prefer to move to better jobs as soon as they can.
Vtmbh article body
Running a candy store is another means of economic survival for Bangladeshis in New York. Though the candy stores, located on sidewalks of busy roads, street corners, inside the subway, or inside buildings near elevators, are not very big in size, they are profitable businesses.
Some qualities of running a candy store that attract Bangladeshis are: the small size, its not very difficult labor, commodities may be obtained on credit, and its comparatively profitable. With the economic downturn, Bangladeshis are increasingly attracted to this profession; candy stores are attracting people the way driving a yellow cab used to.
In the city, about 200 candy stores are leased to Bangladeshis. One Bangladeshi owns 15 or 16 candy stores. Many stores make profits of a thousand dollars a year. New York City candy stores are owned by the MTA, the Parks Department or City Hall, which lease the stores for five years. To win a lease, one bids against others. There is a provision that if the leasee abides by all the rules and regulations, the lease is extended for five more years. People who lease candy stores have their credit lines examined like all other businesses. One should have prior experience for such businesses. When someone is selected as the highest bidder for a store, he must pay the equivalent of three months rent.
Bangladeshis work in most candy stores in the city, though in many cases Bangladeshis work in candy stores run by people from other countries. That means if one frequents a candy store in Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx or Brooklyn, one will almost definitely meet a Bangladeshi guy.
Candy stores are open 24-hours-a-day. Most of the stores are opened by workers and, at the end of the day, workers close them. That means that the manager depends on the employees. Wages are low, often below expectations, and so sometimes employees steal cash from the register. Sometimes the manager and the employees do not believe each other, but employees are rarely fired. Most candy store workers are newcomers. They work there in the beginning and, when they obtain green cards, they leave the candy stores for better jobs.
Some qualities of running a candy store that attract Bangladeshis are: the small size, its not very difficult labor, commodities may be obtained on credit, and its comparatively profitable. With the economic downturn, Bangladeshis are increasingly attracted to this profession; candy stores are attracting people the way driving a yellow cab used to.
In the city, about 200 candy stores are leased to Bangladeshis. One Bangladeshi owns 15 or 16 candy stores. Many stores make profits of a thousand dollars a year. New York City candy stores are owned by the MTA, the Parks Department or City Hall, which lease the stores for five years. To win a lease, one bids against others. There is a provision that if the leasee abides by all the rules and regulations, the lease is extended for five more years. People who lease candy stores have their credit lines examined like all other businesses. One should have prior experience for such businesses. When someone is selected as the highest bidder for a store, he must pay the equivalent of three months rent.
Bangladeshis work in most candy stores in the city, though in many cases Bangladeshis work in candy stores run by people from other countries. That means if one frequents a candy store in Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx or Brooklyn, one will almost definitely meet a Bangladeshi guy.
Candy stores are open 24-hours-a-day. Most of the stores are opened by workers and, at the end of the day, workers close them. That means that the manager depends on the employees. Wages are low, often below expectations, and so sometimes employees steal cash from the register. Sometimes the manager and the employees do not believe each other, but employees are rarely fired. Most candy store workers are newcomers. They work there in the beginning and, when they obtain green cards, they leave the candy stores for better jobs.
Vtmbh article date
2002-08-02
Vtmbh article edition
31
Vtmbh article hit count
130
Vtmbh article keywords
Vtmbh article line breaks
1
Vtmbh article original language
Bangla
Vtmbh article publication
Weekly Thikana
Vtmbh article section
news
Vtmbh article thumb
Vtmbh article title
Candy stores are another means of survival for Bangladeshis in New York
Vtmbh article translator
Moinuddin Naser
Source
born-digital
Media Type
article
Original Name
Leasing a candy store is a small but profitable venture; its appealing to more and more Bangladeshis
Created by Author
yes
Described by Author
no
Date Entered
2002-08-02
Collection
Citation
“Candy stores are another means of survival for Bangladeshis in New York,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed October 1, 2026, https://911.dev.chnm.gmu.edu/items/1522/.