Staten Island Bodega Owner Rewards Students With Free Food and Cash for Good Grades

Staten Island, NY — In a small deli nestled in the heart of Staten Island, New York, academic success is met with more than just praise — it’s celebrated with Smarties, smiles, and even hundred-dollar bills.

Wail Alselwi, known affectionately as “Island Ock” to his customers and over 300,000 TikTok followers, is the co-owner and manager of Zack’s Finest Deli & Grocery. He’s become something of a local hero for his heartwarming initiative: rewarding students who bring in strong report cards with free snacks, store merchandise, and sometimes, cold hard cash.

“I like seeing the smile on their faces,” Alselwi told TODAY.com. “Man, it makes me happy.”

One recent recipient of Alselwi’s generosity is Madison, a 17-year-old high school junior with aspirations of becoming a professional basketball player. When she walked into the shop with her latest report card, boasting a perfect 100% average, she was greeted with cheers — and a $100 reward.

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This isn’t a one-off gesture. According to Alselwi, students who earn:

• 90% or higher receive a $100 reward, a T-shirt, and their pick of goodies;

• 80%–90% get to choose anything from the store;

• 70%–80% are given up to $10 in snacks;

• Even those with lower grades are encouraged with rewards if they show improvement, perfect attendance, or are named student of the month.

The initiative began in 2023 with a promise Alselwi made to a local boy named Zamier Davies, who was struggling to make the honor roll. After being promised a reward for better grades, Davies gradually improved — from 88%, to 89%, and finally, to a spot on the honor roll. His story went viral on TikTok and inspired others to bring their own report cards to the store.

Now, students from across New York — and even as far as Pennsylvania — have made the pilgrimage to Zack’s, eager to show their academic progress to a man who believes in them.

“It was mostly a bet that he made with himself — and Wally,” said Davies’ uncle, Jerome Ivory.

Alselwi, originally from Yemen, says the initiative is especially meaningful to him because his three children still live there. “I got my own kids back home, and I miss them, so it makes me happy to see other kids happy,” he said.

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Encouraged by the public’s support, Alselwi’s brother launched a GoFundMe campaign to help sustain the initiative. It has already raised nearly $50,000.

Despite the newfound fame and financial support, Alselwi remains grounded.

“Let’s say I’m giving them $100 or if I’m giving them snacks for free or a T-shirt — to me, that does not matter,” he says. “The most important thing is you celebrate them and show them that you really care about their hard work.”

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