Mayor Mamdani Unveils La Marqueta as NYC's First Public Grocery Site

New city-run supermarket aims to provide affordable, high-quality food in East Harlem

Apr. 15, 2026 at 4:30am

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A serene, photorealistic painting of the La Marqueta building in East Harlem, with the facade illuminated by warm, angled sunlight casting deep shadows across the structure. The scene evokes a sense of timeless urban nostalgia.The revitalization of the iconic La Marqueta site will bring affordable, high-quality groceries to an underserved East Harlem community.Manhattan Today

Mayor Mamdani announced plans to open the first of five city-owned grocery stores in New York City, with the initial location at the historic La Marqueta site in East Harlem. The goal is to deliver affordable, high-quality food to underserved communities by subsidizing a core basket of staple goods and partnering with a private operator to run the store under city standards.

Why it matters

Grocery prices in New York City have risen significantly faster than the national average in recent years, putting basic food items out of reach for many low-income residents. East Harlem, where La Marqueta is located, has high rates of food insecurity, public assistance usage, and diet-related health issues - problems the new city-run supermarket aims to address.

The details

The city will subsidize a core set of affordable staple goods at the La Marqueta store, which is slated to open by 2029. A private operator will run the store but must meet city standards, including requirements to keep prices low on key items like bread and eggs. The 65,000 residents living within a 10-minute walk of La Marqueta, including 5,000 NYCHA public housing tenants, will have access to the new grocery option.

  • La Marqueta was originally opened in 1936 after Mayor Fiorello La Guardia broke ground on the site in 1934.
  • The new city-run supermarket at La Marqueta is scheduled to open by 2029.

The players

Mayor Aftab Mamdani

The current mayor of New York City, who announced the plan to open a network of city-owned grocery stores starting with the La Marqueta location in East Harlem.

Julie Su

The Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice, who spoke about the city's goal of ensuring all New Yorkers can afford basic necessities like food.

Elsie Encarnacion

A New York City Council member representing East Harlem, who praised the plan to bring an affordable grocery store to the neighborhood.

Brad Hoylman-Sigal

The Manhattan Borough President, who highlighted the health and nutrition challenges faced by East Harlem residents due to limited access to affordable, high-quality food.

Yusef Salaam

A New York City Council member who spoke about the importance of the city government stepping in to ensure all residents can afford to eat.

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What they’re saying

“If New Yorkers cannot afford to eat, government cannot look away.”

— Julie Su, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice

“This is about putting the power back in the people and allowing the people to regain their pulse again, their very heartbeat.”

— Yusef Salaam, New York City Council Member

“This is about confronting something deeper: food insecurity. And doing it in a way that is rooted in dignity, access and cultural connection.”

— Elsie Encarnacion, New York City Council Member

What’s next

The city will release a procurement this summer to select a private operator to run the La Marqueta grocery store, which is scheduled to open by 2029.

The takeaway

By opening a network of city-owned grocery stores that guarantee affordable prices on essential food items, the Mamdani administration is taking bold action to address food insecurity and ensure all New Yorkers have access to nutritious, culturally-relevant groceries regardless of their income level.