NYC Mayor Mamdani's East Harlem Grocery Store Already Snagged $25 Million In Taxpayer Funds Years Ago, Because Why Not Double The Waste

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has unveiled a brilliant plan to open a $30 million city owned grocery store in East Harlem. The location is a site that already received approval for a $25 million public upgrade nearly a decade ago. This innovative approach promises to transform the area into a $55 million monument to government efficiency that has left local business owners rubbing their temples in disbelief.

La Marqueta, the bustling food market tucked between East 111th and East 119th streets under the Metro North tracks, is where Mamdani wants to plant his socialist supermarket. Unlike those greedy private stores that have to pay rent and taxes, this glorious government venture will slash prices to the floor by simply not bothering with such capitalist nonsense.

The only problem is that the same spot already won the city's Economic Development Corporation blessing years ago for a $25 million facelift. City officials confirmed the combined price tag now stands at a cool $55 million. 

That's enough money to buy every resident in the neighborhood a lifetime supply of government cheese and still have leftovers for a parade.

"The $30 million figure by itself is outrageous," said Stephen Zagor, adjunct associate professor of food studies at Columbia Business School. "You'd expect the doorknobs and cash registers to be solid gold." And the employee toilets to play Gosudarstvennyy gimn Rossiyskoy Federatsii" (Государственный гимн Российской Федерации) aka the Russian National Anthem whenever they flush.

He added that the extra $25 million already earmarked for the rest of the aging La Marqueta should probably be revisited. Or not. Who cares? It's only taxpayer money.

According to the 2017 plan dusted off for local business leaders this month, the redevelopment includes a playground, a dog park, outdoor seating close to where dogs poop, and a market offering fresh produce, groceries, prepared foods, and public seating in a food hall environment where comrades can discuss how Marxism was never practiced correctly.

Mamdani somehow forgot to mention this preexisting project when he first announced his public grocery empire last month.

Anthony Pena, president of the National Supermarket Association, noted the stunning lack of transparency. "City officials have not been transparent and open about anything they are doing," he said. Shocking.

One detail in particular has sparked widespread eye rolling. The plan calls for a parking lot complete with electric vehicle charging stations.

"Electric vehicles tend to be more expensive," Zagor observed. "So are they catering to a higher income market? It sounds like they aren't focused on what they are trying to do in serving East Harlem residents."

It isn't as if  Mamdani has thought it all through--that would require an actual thought process.

Mamdani has budgeted $70 million total for five city owned stores, one in each borough. That averages out to $10 million apiece for the other four locations. Why East Harlem merits triple the cash remains one of life's great mysteries, right up there with why government projects always cost more than a private company would spend.

On May 18, the comrade also announced a 20,000 square foot public grocery in the Bronx set to open next year. Meanwhile executives point out that a typical 9,000 square foot grocery in Manhattan should cost about a third of Mamdani's proposal. "They are going to spend $10 million on a 20,000 square foot store and $30 million on a 9,000 square foot store," Pena said. "There is a massive disconnect right now and there are more questions than answers."

Could it be that hizzoner is planning to pocket the leftover spare change?

The Economic Development Corporation insists the $30 million store and the old $25 million revamp are completely separate investments. The $30 million will cover ground up construction, fit out, back of house needs, and that vital EV parking. None of the original $25 million will touch the grocery store itself. 

Everything is fine. Please stop asking questions.

The project has been delayed for years thanks to the pandemic and an MTA capital project overhead. Tenants at La Marqueta remain completely in the dark about their future. One business owner wondered if the city grocery will start selling potted plants and herbs, just to make private competitors' lives even more exciting.

In the end, New Yorkers can rest easy knowing their tax dollars are hard at work building the most expensive grocery store in history. After all, nothing says "affordable food access" like a government project that costs more per square foot than a Manhattan penthouse.

Fraud much?

Thank you for following Brain Flushings. Please take time to simply check out the sponsors on this page--it's one way to support my work and you don't need to purchase anything to do so. Of course, you can Buy Me A Coffee if you want to support me directly. And finally, don't be afraid to subscribe if you enjoy the blog--it's free, and worth the cost.

Tweet