New York, NY (April 14, 2026)

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s first proposed city-owned grocery store is expected to cost about $30 million to build at La Marqueta in East Harlem, giving the administration its most detailed public look yet at a signature affordability initiative tied to the mayor’s first months in office.

The East Harlem site, announced during a weekend event marking Mamdani’s first 100 days in office, is expected to be the most ambitious of the five planned stores because it would require construction from the ground up on city-owned property. While La Marqueta appears to be the first location publicly identified, city officials have indicated that other stores could open sooner if suitable sites are found that do not require a full new build.

The grocery plan is backed by an initial $70 million city commitment, with the administration framing the stores as a way to reduce household food costs in neighborhoods where many residents rely on public assistance or nutrition benefits. In outlining the East Harlem project, Mamdani pointed to the surrounding community’s economic needs and cast the proposal as part of a broader push to make basic goods more affordable for working families.

The selection of La Marqueta also carries historical significance. The longtime public market in East Harlem has deep roots in the city’s food economy and has long been associated with low-cost access to fresh goods for neighborhood residents. By choosing the site, the administration is tying the new grocery effort to that legacy while trying to give new purpose to city-controlled space in a part of Manhattan where affordability remains a central concern.

La Marqueta is one of New York City’s public market locations and has long served as a cultural and commercial landmark in East Harlem. The mayor’s team has suggested that the broader grocery rollout will continue citywide, with one location planned in each borough before the end of the current term.

The cost of the first project is likely to draw continued attention as the city moves from concept to construction, especially as officials work to show that a publicly backed grocery model can be delivered on schedule and at prices residents can feel at the checkout counter.