New York City Advances Plans for City-Owned Grocery Stores

New York City has begun site visits for its planned network of city-owned grocery stores, starting with a proposed location at The Peninsula development in Hunts Point, South Bronx.

City officials and potential store operators toured the roughly 20,000-square-foot site Monday as officials sought input from local residents and businesses on how the store should serve the community. The South Bronx location is expected to open by the end of 2027.

A second site at La Marqueta in East Harlem is scheduled for a tour this week and is projected to open by the end of 2029.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration plans to establish five city-owned grocery stores, one in each borough, as part of an effort to improve access to affordable food. The stores are expected to offer staples including produce, meat and dairy at prices targeted to be about 30% below average retail costs.

Officials say community feedback will play a key role in shaping the stores and ensuring they complement existing neighborhood businesses rather than compete directly with them.