NYC Gets Its First 'Free Grocery Store' From Betting Platform Polymarket

The pop-up shop drew hundreds of shoppers looking for relief from high food prices.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Hundreds of New Yorkers lined up for hours on Thursday to shop at a 'free grocery store' launched by the prediction betting platform Polymarket in Manhattan's West Village. The pop-up store, which will be open through Monday, allowed shoppers to fill tote bags with free produce, non-perishables, and household items as the company faces increased scrutiny from state regulators over its betting operations.

Why it matters

The free grocery store stunt comes as food prices in New York City have skyrocketed over the past decade, with 1 in 9 households in the state experiencing food insecurity. The move by Polymarket is seen as a response to calls by some politicians, like Mayor Zohran Mamdani, for the government to provide more support for food access.

The details

Polymarket, a prediction betting platform that allows users to gamble on world events, launched the free grocery store as a publicity stunt. The store drew over 400 eager shoppers who lined up hours before the 2 p.m. opening to fill blue tote bags with free food and household items. Polymarket also donated $1 million to the Food Bank for NYC to help fight food insecurity. However, the company has faced increased scrutiny from state regulators over the legality of its betting operations, with an Israel Defense Forces reservationist and a civilian recently indicted for allegedly using classified information to place bets on the platform.

  • The free grocery store opened on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 2 p.m.
  • The store will be open from 2 to 5 p.m. until Monday, February 16, 2026.

The players

Polymarket

A prediction betting platform that allows users to gamble on world events and has faced increased scrutiny from state regulators.

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who has pitched the idea of a government-run grocery store.

Leticia James

The New York Attorney General who has warned that prediction market platforms could violate state gambling laws and put users at financial risk.

Clyde Vanel

A New York State Assemblymember who introduced a bill that would categorize prediction market contracts as 'unlicensed gambling'.

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What they’re saying

“Times are hard. Things are very expensive, so this helps. It goes a long way.”

— Tori Hall, Forest Hills resident (New York Post)

“If it is [a publicity stunt] then I got some free food coming out of here...This is exactly what a food bank does.”

— Tori Hall, Forest Hills resident (New York Post)

“Groceries cost a lot. It's terrible. The eggs right now, it's $10 and up, so this [free store] is good.”

— Dayna V., East Harlem resident (New York Post)

“I love Polymarket! I hope they ... create more of it, and I hope this is really here to stay in the future.”

— Dayna V., East Harlem resident (New York Post)

What’s next

Polymarket's free grocery store will remain open through Monday, February 16, 2026, from 2 to 5 p.m. each day.

The takeaway

The free grocery store stunt by Polymarket highlights the growing food insecurity issues in New York City, where grocery prices have skyrocketed over the past decade. While the store provided temporary relief for hundreds of shoppers, it also raises questions about the role of private companies in addressing public needs and the broader debate around the regulation of prediction betting platforms.