You’ll want to get to this pop-up as soon as it opens — a five-day, no-cost grocery store has arrived in Manhattan and people are already lining up for essentials and snacks. It will offer free groceries to anyone who walks in between February 12 and February 16, 2026, and demand is expected to be immediate.
They’ll explain how the store works, what’s on the shelves, and who financed the effort, so you can decide whether to visit and what to expect. The next sections dig into the location, daily hours, the mix of donated goods and promotional items, and the company behind the initiative.
All About New York City’s First Free Grocery Store
The event is a five-day, no-cost pop-up in Manhattan that gives anyone groceries without checkout. It combines a public giveaway with a promotional campaign tied to the prediction-market company behind the operation.
Opening Dates and Location
The free grocery store opens February 12 and runs through February 16, with an additional donation day on the following Monday. The pop-up sits at 137 7th Avenue South in the West Village, a few blocks from the 1 train, making it easy to reach from multiple subway lines.
Grand opening hours begin in the afternoon on February 12; visitors should check local listings for daily start and close times. The temporary format means hours could be limited by supply and crowd control, so arriving earlier in the day increases chances of getting a full tote.
How the Free Grocery Store Works
The store operates without price tags or checkout lines: shoppers enter, select items, and leave without paying. No purchase is required, and the setup treats the space like a community distribution site rather than a conventional retailer…