Mayor Zohran Mamdani is moving forward with plans to open a city-owned grocery store in East Harlem, reviving La Marqueta, a historic public market first launched in 1936 under Fiorello LaGuardia.

The $30 million project will be built beneath the Park Avenue Viaduct between 111th and 116th Streets, with an expected opening by 2029. The initiative aims to address rising food costs in New York City, which have surged roughly 66% over the past decade.

While the store will be city-owned, it will be operated by a private entity selected through a public process and required to meet pricing standards set by the city. In exchange for free rent and tax exemptions, the operator will offer discounted staple goods, creating a hybrid public-private model focused on affordability.

The broader plan includes up to five public grocery stores across the five boroughs by 2029, signaling a more direct role for the city in tackling cost-of-living pressures and food insecurity.

(source: 6sqft, picture: Robin P)