The spirit of the corner store just got a Baltimore remix.
Chopped Broadway Bodega & Deli, the city’s first Black- and woman-owned bodega, is officially open for business—and it’s bringing that chopped cheese heat with it, Black Enterprise reports. Co-owners Ernestine Chambers and Naté Gordon are giving Baltimore’s Fells Point a taste of uptown flavor, blending big-city bites with hometown heart.
“We had this opportunity to make history today and also put a store with fresh food in Fells Point,” Chambers shared with reporters. And history it was. On May 2nd, the pair celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that didn’t just open doors, it opened access.
At Chopped Broadway, the menu is stacked as high as the hoagies. New York staples like chopped cheese and bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches sit alongside a menu curated to feed anybody who’s hungry. Whether you’re craving their best-selling “godfather” sandwich, a vegan bite, or something gluten-free and non-GMO, this bodega’s got you covered.
“So we have a little bit of everything for everybody,” said Gordon. “We have huge, ginormous hoagies, New York style— they are all chopped fresh. We have the godfather, which is our No. 1 seller. It is our spin on the Italian.”
But Chopped Broadway isn’t just about food. It’s about creating a movement.
By hiring 98% locally, the business has already exceeded hiring requirements and is planting seeds for community growth. In a neighborhood where nearly 17% of the population is Black, Chambers and Gordon are showing what it means to create opportunities that reflect the community they serve.
“More importantly, we have an organic section as well as a vegan sandwich because most of the time when you come into a convenience store, you rarely see healthy choices or options, so we have a non-GMO section and gluten-free options,” Chambers added.
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With the rise of minority-owned businesses across Maryland, Chopped Broadway is stepping boldly into its purpose. As Governor Wes Moore declared Maryland the No. 1 state for minority businesses in 2024, this bodega is doing more than just making sandwiches—it’s making history.
“That’s what Chopped is about: food, culture, and opportunity,” said Chambers.
And just like that, a neighborhood corner store became a beacon of flavor, freedom, and fresh beginnings—one chopped cheese at a time.
Cover photo: Meet the Owners Behind Baltimore’s First Black & Woman-Owned Bodega/Chopped Broadway Bodega & Deli co-owners Ernestine Chambers & Naté Gordon with Maryland Senator Cory McCray at store opening/Photo credit: Cory McCray/Instagram