New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan for city-run “FREE” grocery stores is generating widespread attention online after a viral X post revealed soaring costs for the first location. According to reports, the inaugural store at La Marqueta in East Harlem is now projected to cost $30 million and take up to a year to open, nearly half of the $70 million originally budgeted for five stores across the city. The development has triggered a strong public debate over the project’s budget and timeline.
🚨 NEW: Zohran Mamdani’s first “FREE” grocery store is already BURNING UP the budget, and it’s going to take a YEAR to openSHOCKER! 🤣Mamdani budgeted $70 million for FIVE groceries stores, but this first grocery store ALONE will cost $30 MILLIONCommunism doesn’t work! pic.twitter.com/vjKe5qUkMA
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 13, 2026
A post was shared on X by user @nicksortor. In both the post and the accompanying video, the central claim is that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s first city-run “free” grocery store, a pilot program of a larger initiative, is over budget before opening.
The video by Fox News features what seems to be news clips and graphics on the cost and timeline of the project. No information is given on the progress of the real-world construction or operation of the grocery store since it has yet to open…