Grocers and bodega owners in New York City claim that city officials are requesting sensitive private information about their businesses, coinciding with Mayor Zohran Mamdani's plans to establish government-owned supermarkets. Business leaders voiced these concerns at a press conference held Tuesday outside East Harlem's La Marqueta, a planned site for one of the proposed city-run stores.
Fernando Mateo, spokesperson for the United Bodegas of America, stated that city representatives have been questioning and unsettling grocers, particularly in the Bronx. "It’s a sneaky way of gathering information and it’s unethical," Mateo said, representing an organization that speaks for 40,000 delis and bodegas. "These owners panic when they see a city official. They feel threatened by them walking in to ask questions."
These allegations follow a recent report detailing a meeting last month between local business leaders and city officials, including Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su, to discuss the NYC Groceries initiative. During that meeting, business representatives reported being asked similar questions and declined to provide answers.
Store owners reported that city representatives are inquiring about top-selling items, weekly sales volumes, and profit margins. The National Supermarket Association, which represents approximately 800 independent supermarkets, stated that the city's Economic Development Corporation is seeking information on lottery, beer, and cigarette sales, asserting these are the most profitable items for these stores.
Anthony Pena, president of the National Supermarket Association, disputed this claim, noting a decline in beer and cigarette sales revenue and a long-unchanged commission rate for lottery tickets. "It’s just untrue," Pena told The Post.
Frank Garcia, chairman of the Multicultural Business Coalition, an organization representing numerous chambers of commerce for various ethnic businesses in New York, is seeking a meeting with Mayor Mamdani. Garcia expressed a desire to inform the mayor, stating, "His advisors don’t know what they are doing and we want to inform him."
A spokesperson for Deputy Mayor Su stated that the engagement with bodega owners is intended to understand their concerns and to shape the product offerings for the NYC Groceries stores. The stated goal is to ensure these stores complement, rather than compete with, local bodegas. The administration indicated it is consulting with a wide range of stakeholders, including supermarket associations, bodega owners, local grocers, residents, labor unions, food policy analysts, and food justice advocates.
Despite the city's stated intentions, grocers remain opposed to the concept of city-owned stores and are suspicious of potential competition. Garcia's coalition has launched a fundraising campaign to oppose the mayor's proposal and has threatened legal action. Garcia declined a recent meeting request from Su's office, preferring to meet directly with Mayor Mamdani to present solutions. He highlighted issues such as the lack of access to capital for many bodega owners, who he claims are paying interest rates as high as 45% to informal lenders.
While Garcia has indicated that other members of his coalition might be willing to meet with Su's team, no meetings have been scheduled. Garcia also noted that the mayor's legal counsel has requested an in-person meeting, with the coalition suspecting the city's concern stems from the potential for a lawsuit.