By Aidann Gia
Just around the corner from Pace University, nestled amid the glass-and-steel modernity of the Financial District, stands an eclectic convenience store stocked with goods and necessities for students and staff alike. 118 Fulton Convenience recently opened near the famous Fulton Center station, its prominent fluorescent neon lights and colorful interior beckoning to passersby. This novel spot is packed with sweet treats, energy drinks, and essentials like toilet paper—everything a college student might need, all within walking distance.
The unique charm of 118 Fulton Convenience lies in its vibrant ambiance. Bright, colorful lights line the store, and the walls are covered with a variety of snacks. The bodega’s signage immediately catches the eye, drawing in a young crowd. I visited the shop with my friend Marlie Capuano to sample some of the sugary delights on offer.
“Even though they had a smaller floor plan to work with, the really high ceilings keep the space open,” Capuano noted. “The store was organized well to keep customers moving through instead of lingering in one area.”
Most of the customers were teenagers and college students grabbing chips, cookies, and chocolate. But the store’s selection extends far beyond snacks, offering items like incense, laundry detergent, and paper towels. A side wall features a mosaic of small comforts—Oreos, gummy bears, potato chips, and more. The shelves exude an artful chaos, brimming with assorted candies and packaged baked goods.
“They had an interesting selection of food! There were a lot of things I don’t normally see at a convenience store, so that was definitely fun,” Capuano added.
We picked up bite-sized hazelnut wafers, Nutella “B-ready” sticks, chocolate biscuits, strawberry yogurt-dipped pretzels, and strawberry jam-filled flaky puff pastries for a small gathering with friends. All of our items cost less than $20—a bargain for sweet treats to entertain six peckish students! The Nutella desserts were the crowd favorite, closely followed by the strawberry pretzels.
118 Fulton Convenience, unlike many sterile and impersonal stores, has carved out a niche that feels exciting and fresh to the busy and bustling young professionals in the area. It’s perfect for students and employees in need of a quick bite or a bottle of detergent without having to trek to a big-box store.
The Campus Clipper is offering a 15% discount on grocery items at 118 Fulton Convenience to all university students, staff, and faculty who present a valid university ID.
