Scamdani and the Truth About City-Owned Grocery Stores

PJ Media ^ | 3 aug 2026 | Jamie Wilson

[Rummyfan]

Some of my earliest memories are from a grocery store.

My mother, and later her sister, worked at a locally owned Key Market running the deli department. Baked goods, hot meals, sliced meats and fresh salads, and the best donuts you ever tasted made from scratch every day — it was a kid’s paradise. She would sometimes take me to work on Saturdays, and I’d help, doing everything but slicing the meat (age-restricted because it’s dangerous). It was fun for me, and I learned things I would not have learned watching cartoons.

Later, just before I married and became a military wife, I worked at my local Kroger regional office supporting loyalty card and marketing issues for, gosh, I guess it was about 200 stores. I learned a lot about the grocery business.

All this is to say: I know the difference between grocery economics and political theater.

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TOPICS: News/Current Events
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[Rummyfan]

Scamdani’s city-owned stores are nothing but a subsidized loss-leader program. Taxpayers will actually be paying for the same groceries twice. And better prices and more convenience are available at your fingertips using an app. This is socialism in action.

[catnipman]

and 20,000 sq ft stores equal in size to the old dim and dirty A&P stores in the 1970’s ... plus customers must show a government issued ID [presumably picture ID] to buy in a Mamdani grocery store [MGS], and no doubt severe limits on the amounts that can be bought ... [i wonder if the MGS shelves will often look stripped bare like the stores in the old Soviet Union?]

[butlerweave]

No Pork ?

[Iron Munro]

A poorly thought out way to redistribute money extorted from workers and other taxpayers to favored demographics like blacks as well as muslims and illegals.

Basically backdoor reparations and vote buying payment in advance.

[RWGinger]

Now Commie mandami is saying No I’d required so illegals or anyone can shop the cheaper stuff Taxpayers paid for.

[blackdog]

We all remember government cheese, powdered milk, and peanut butter from the 70’s. It’s not the road to culinary joy. It’s what you will get.

[Salman]

A very interesting analysis, but I'll add a little more detail about the municipal grocery store project ...

The money has already been spread around.
Mamdani's political cronies already got theirs.
Actually opening the stores is an optional detail.

[Carry_Okie]

We all remember government cheese, powdered milk, and peanut butter from the 70’s.

"It's nacho cheese!!!"

[PGR88]

Mamdani and his fellow travelers are young, stupid and full of energy

They have learned the power of the Mayor of NYC is actually quite limited - they can’t offer free bus-travel, they can’t offer universal child-care (only a fool would want it it anyway), they can’t do anything about ICE, and welfare in NYC is paid for by the State and especially, Fed.gov, with its unlimited printed money and debt.

But what CAN they do to show their destructive marxist zeal?

They can extend rent control where possible (already done). They can tell police to stand-down when Muslims want to conduct their humiliation rituals in public spaces (already done)

AND they can take some city owned properties and turn them into city-run grocery stores!

It will be an utter failure, but it will keep them occupied and be an outlet for their socialist zeal for 24-36 months

[catnipman]

“The administration clarified that shoppers can access deals via a voluntary savings card.”

Riiiight ... these people are such lying scumbags: original statement was “a city official told reporters a “library-card-esque system” may be employed to prevent abuse of the 30% discounted markets.”

[Maine Mariner]

Boy Scout Camps also got that subsidized cheese and peanut butter. I will never forget the peanut butter; it stuck to the roof of my mouth for a half hour!!

[Tax-chick]

There’s so much discussion about these stores that don’t exist. I wonder if anyone will notice when (if?) the stores actually open.

[Leaning Right]

I’ve seen videos of “progressives” who say it’s okay to shoplift because the stores are greedy. Or because food is a natural right. Or because whatever.

I wonder how these Mamdani Marts will handle shoplifters. Will it be done in a modern, progressive manner? Let’s hope so.

[dfwgator]

I wonder how these Mamdani Marts will handle shoplifters. Will it be done in a modern, progressive manner? Let’s hope so.

Or in the Muslim manner....

[Leaning Right]

I actually thought about posting a picture from the movie Casino, showing how they handled card cheats.

But your picture is more appropriate.

[adorno]

There’s so much discussion about these stores that don’t exist.

I heard or read somewhere that the formerly called 'free food stores, now discount stores', won't be opening until 2029, just in time for the voters (election again for the 2030 mayor's race) to have realized that the whole socialism scam is not workable and NOT FREE at all.

[DugwayDuke]

blackdog wrote: “We all remember government cheese, powdered milk, and peanut butter from the 70’s. It’s not the road to culinary joy. It’s what you will get.”

I got to sample the government cheese. It was very good. It was the same cheese commercially available. The government bought it from the same commercial sources as part of a government subsidy for dairy.

[lrvp99]

Scamdani! I love it!

[philled]

We also got blocks of butter. There was a year or two as a teen when I ate at least one govt peanut butter or grilled cheese sandwich every day. However, the powdered milk was terrible.

[Blurb2350]

My dad worked briefly for the county Welfare Dept. and helped distribute “commodities” to the recipients (whom he grew to despise). He once brought home a block of cheese for us to sample. I remember it being wrapped in foil, and it was identical to Velveeta — “processed cheese food.”