A bodega is a gas station without the gas

I experienced that first hand. Colleagues going to their cars to drive 200m down the road to park again and then walk 100m back on themselves to a deli.

It’s baffling how something as simple as a corner shop that can be walked to is a novelty yet here in Europe, it’s the norm everywhere.

You're right, but that's equivalent to saying that most places don't have corner stores. It being walkable is a prerequisite.