In today’s monologue, we take a trip to one of the most familiar—and complicated—institutions in Black and urban communities: the corner store. From overpriced snacks and bulletproof glass to being the place you go when the fridge is empty and payday is still two days away, corner stores sit at the intersection of convenience, survival, and frustration. This monologue explores how these stores became community lifelines while also symbolizing deeper issues like food deserts, economic neglect, and cultural disconnect. It’s a reflection on the unspoken rules, the side-eye exchanges, and the reality that for many neighborhoods, the corner store is the closest thing to a grocery store. Funny, pointed, and a little uncomfortable, the conversation asks a bigger question: what does it say about a community when the corner store becomes the main source of food—and who benefits from that reality?
