New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced plans for five city-owned grocery stores that would offer a 30% discount on dozens of everyday grocery items as part of an effort to make food more affordable for residents.
The city said the first store is expected to open by the end of 2027.
What groceries will be discounted?
According to a July 27 news release from the mayor's office, the stores will offer a 30% discount on a "core basket" of more than 20 essential grocery items, including:
- Fresh produce
- Meat
- Seafood
- Dairy products
- Refrigerated foods
- Pantry staples
The city said the discounts will be available to all shoppers, regardless of income. Prices on these items will also be locked in rather than fluctuate from week to week, as they often do at private grocery stores.
Officials estimate the program could reduce the average household grocery bill by
about 15%, or roughly $90 per month — about $1,000 annually.
Five stores planned across New York City
The city has issued a request for proposals seeking qualified grocery operators to manage one or more of the stores.
While the city will own the locations, the selected operator will be responsible for day-to-day operations, including:
- Hiring staff
- Stocking merchandise
- Managing store operations
- Following labor standards
The first municipal grocery store is planned for Hunts Point in the Bronx by the end of 2027.
According to the mayor's office, the store will be part of The Peninsula redevelopment project at the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Facility. The mixed-use development includes:
- 740 affordable housing units
- More than 50,000 square feet of public open space
- 30,000 square feet of light industrial space
- More than 50,000 square feet of community space
- A 20,000-square-foot municipal grocery store
The administration said one city-owned grocery store is planned for each of the five boroughs by the end of Mamdani's first term, including a location at La Marqueta in East Harlem.
Proposal has drawn support and criticism
The municipal grocery stores were a key campaign promise for Mamdani.
The proposal has also drawn criticism from some business owners, including bodega operators, who have expressed concerns that city-owned stores could compete with existing neighborhood businesses.
What Mamdani said
"Every week, New Yorkers walk into a grocery store hoping the prices haven't gone up again," Mamdani said in a statement. "A trip to the grocery store shouldn't spell dread for New Yorkers. That's why we are guaranteeing a 30% discount on the most common and most critical groceries for families across the five boroughs — including eggs, milk, chicken and fresh fruits and vegetables."
Jeanny Pak, interim president and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, said the city is seeking a private operator to help run the stores through a public-private partnership aimed at making groceries more affordable for New Yorkers.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NYC plans city-owned grocery stores with 30% discounts on groceries. What to know
