City-owned grocery stores

La Marqueta in East Harlem announced as first site (April 14, 2026). ~$30M for first store construction. $70M program targets one store per borough — five stores expected to progressively open from 2027 through 2029. First store opening expected late 2027. [2026-05-18 update] SECOND site announced: The Peninsula in Hunts Point, Bronx — 20,000-sq-ft store within a mixed-use redevelopment of the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Facility (740 affordable units, light industrial, community space). Opens 2027. AOC issued formal endorsement of the site selection. Mamdani used the announcement to invert Reagan's "9 most terrifying words" line. 2/5 boroughs now sited; 3 remaining (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island). Jul 22 2026: Mamdani names Lina Khan EDC board chair + Tony Shorris EDC president/CEO; administration says city-run grocery stores are a top EDC priority under new leadership. Aug 3 2026 RFP milestone: NYCEDC posts formal RFP for private operator(s). Info-session RSVP due Mon Aug 3, virtual info session Wed Aug 5 9am ET, bids due Fri Oct 16 4pm ET. 30% discount confirmed on all produce, meat, seafood, ~20 pantry categories. First store Hunts Point end-2027; full five-borough rollout by 2029. Multicultural Business Coalition (Aug 1) voted to sue NYC over the plan. Aug 15 2026: Gothamist + CNN Business consolidation piece confirms current shape — 5 stores, ~9,000 sq ft each (Hunts Point at 20K sq ft is the outlier), 30% discount core basket, first opens late 2027, full rollout by 2029. NYC Bodega Association endorsed Mamdani despite critiquing the plan. No new site announcements this weekend; 2/5 boroughs still sited (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island outstanding).