Usnavi

He is head-over-heels in love with Vanessa, a local hair salon worker who dreams of moving downtown, though he struggles to express his feelings to herUsnavi is the literal and emotional cornerstone of his community. His bodega serves as the central hub where everyone stops by for their morning coffee (cafecito), daily newspapers, and lottery tickets. He knows everyone's routines, quirks, and struggles. He is deeply nostalgic for the Dominican Republic, a place he left as a child but romanticizes through his late parents' memories. His primary goal for much of the story is to save enough money to buy back his father's old bar on the beach and return to his homeland.Despite having very little, he completely supports his younger cousin, Sonny, and deeply loves Abuela Claudia, the matriarch of the neighborhood who practically raised him after his parents passed away.While he is incredibly articulate, rhythmic, and expressive when rapping or speaking to the audience, he becomes incredibly tongue-tied, shy, and clumsy around Vanessa, the beauty salon worker he has a massive crush