Polymarket Opens Free Grocery Pop-Up in New York City

The crypto company's new initiative offers free pantry staples and produce to the community.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Polymarket, a cryptocurrency prediction market platform, has opened a free grocery pop-up store in New York City's West Village neighborhood. The store, dubbed "The Polymarket," is offering a variety of pantry items and fresh produce to attendees, who are allowed to take as much as they can fit in a branded tote bag. The pop-up has drawn long lines, with some people arriving as early as 7:30 a.m. to secure their spot. The store is open for three days, with additional community donation hours, and is seen as a more thoughtfully designed initiative compared to a similar stunt by rival company Kalshi.

Why it matters

The Polymarket free grocery pop-up is the latest example of a tech company using a charitable initiative to generate publicity and goodwill. While some have criticized these types of stunts as more about marketing than true community support, the Polymarket store is being seen as a more well-executed effort that is meeting a real need for affordable groceries, especially during the winter months.

The details

The Polymarket store is offering a variety of pantry staples such as oil, rice, seasonings, peanut butter, and beans, as well as a selection of fresh produce including carrots, avocados, and bell peppers. Attendees are limited to taking only what they can fit in a single branded tote bag, in order to ensure fair distribution. The store has also included some thoughtful touches, such as providing socks, which are often in high demand at homeless shelters during the cold winter months.

  • The Polymarket free grocery store opened on February 12, 2026.
  • The store will be open on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, with additional community donation hours on those days.
  • On Saturday, February 14th, the store will host a "community celebration" with free flowers and cards for Valentine's Day.
  • The final day for donations to the store will be on Monday, February 16th.

The players

Polymarket

A cryptocurrency prediction market platform that has opened a free grocery pop-up store in New York City's West Village neighborhood.

Milla Jackson

A school aide from Staten Island who arrived at 7:30 a.m. to wait in line for the Polymarket free grocery store.

Victoria Plaza

A financial planning advisor who arrived at the Polymarket free grocery store around 11 a.m., expecting that those ahead of her had been in the neighborhood.

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City, who has expressed support for affordability initiatives but has been critical of prediction markets like Polymarket.

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What they’re saying

“I just found out about Polymarket. I looked it up last night. I'm like, 'Oh, I definitely want to show up.'”

— Milla Jackson, school aide (NYC for Free* newsletter)

“Whatever I can carry.”

— Victoria Plaza, financial planning advisor (Overheard at the Polymarket store)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

While some have criticized tech companies' charitable initiatives as more about marketing than true community support, the Polymarket free grocery pop-up appears to be a well-executed effort that is meeting a real need for affordable groceries, especially during the winter months. The store's focus on pantry staples and fresh produce, as well as thoughtful touches like providing socks, suggest a more thoughtful approach compared to similar stunts.