In a certain small section of Brooklyn, Ralph Jawad’s presence was a reassuring constant.

His bodega, a frills-free corner bastion of old New York grit, chugged along for decades even as the surrounding neighborhood in Fort Greene, near the new Barclays Center, has changed almost beyond recognition. Even the storefront sign, displaying a long-discarded name, has not been displaced.

The bodega, known to all as Ralph’s, was the kind of place where local residents left an extra set of apartment keys, or could count on running a bit of credit. It was the sort of New York standby that stayed open, always ready for one of life’s impulsive purchases: chips, candy, cigarettes, beer.

And, the police said, drugs.

The police arrested Mr. Jawad, 48, on Thursday evening after they said an undercover officer bought marijuana from him. It was not the first time an undercover officer had done so, the police said. In addition, Mr. Jawad had been arrested once before, they added, in 2003, on weapons charges. Brooklyn prosecutors declined to prosecute in that case.

Inside the store, along with the deli meat and bags of Domino sugar, the Brooklyn narcotics squad said it found roughly 460 assorted pills that appeared to include oxycodone, Valium and morphine; more than a pound of marijuana; over $21,000 in cash; and two loaded handguns. Two employees were arrested with Mr. Jawad on drug and gun charges. All three are facing up to 25 years in prison.