New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su and the New York City Economic Development Corporation say that a core basket of everyday groceries will be 30% cheaper at five new municipal grocery stores.
The basket will include all fresh produce, meat and seafood, along with roughly 20 additional categories of pantry staples, dairy and refrigerated goods. The discount will apply to all regardless of income, with prices locked in and predictable rather than fluctuating week to week as is the case at private grocers, according to a news release. Combined, the savings are projected to cut New Yorkers’ average grocery bill by 15%, about $90 a month, or roughly $1,000 a year.
The mayor has also issued a request for proposals from qualified grocers or firms to serve as operators of one or more NYC Groceries stores. The selected operator will be responsible for day-to-day store operations, including merchandising, staffing and adherence to strong labor practices.
The Mamdani administration’s network of municipal grocery stores — a pillar of the mayor’s Affordability Agenda — will guarantee lower prices for New Yorkers across the five boroughs, including the more than 40% of families who struggle to afford food. The first grocery store will open by the end of 2027 at Hunts Point in the Bronx, a neighborhood where 77% of households struggle to afford basic necessities.
All five stores — one per borough — will be open by the end of the mayor’s first term, including La Marqueta in East Harlem. The mayor has allocated $70 million in the capital budget to deliver on this core commitment, in partnership with NYCEDC.
“Every week, New Yorkers walk into a grocery store hoping the prices haven’t gone up again,” Mamdani says. “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. In a city that’s defined by unpredictability, you deserve stability — no matter what aisle you’re in.”
“Groceries are one of the clearest places New Yorkers feel the cost of living every week,” says Su. “This administration is building a grocery store model that puts affordability first, with a 30% discount on essential foods and quality jobs for the people who run these stores. That’s what it means to make this city work for working people.”
“’NYC Groceries: A Recipe for Affordability’ is a plan that clearly and transparently defines Mayor Mamdani and the administration’s goal of making basic groceries more affordable for all New Yorkers, and with the 30% discount on essential items, this first-of-its-kind municipal program has the potential to become an essential public service,” says Jeanny Pak, NYCEDC interim president and CEO. “We are thrilled to be leading this RFP in search of a private operator who is going to be a key partner in the success of this initiative and serve as another example of how public-private partnerships can help make New York City more affordable for everyone.”
Visit the NYC Groceries webpage for more information.
