Mamdani’s $30 Million Socialist Grocery Store Is Currently a Trash-Strewn Empty Lot

I spoke with grocery owner interested in Mayor Mamdani’s city-run stores

“I’m glad that the mayor did address it, because a lot of people are struggling with these food prices”

But would he have liked to compete with one?

“Candidly, I wouldn’t” pic.twitter.com/EevXxemp0Q

— Dan Rivoli (@danrivoli) August 19, 2026

City officials, apparently aware that immigrant-owned grocers are planning to sue to stop the program, tried to ease fears by promising grants, incentives, and other handouts to private stores that would be competing against city-subsidized competitors. The city’s lead official for the grocery program said there could be “policies and programs, grants, incentives that can come alongside these grocery stores to support other local independent businesses.”

So the plan is: use taxpayer money to build government stores that undercut private grocers. Then use more taxpayer money to compensate the private grocers being undercut. Everyone gets a government check. Everyone is dependent on the government. That’s not a grocery program. That’s a socialist political machine dressed in produce.