NEW YORK – Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced The Peninsula in the Bronx has been selected as the second site for the City’s municipal grocery store program. The 20,000-square-foot store in Hunts Point is expected to open in 2027 and serve as an economic anchor for the South Bronx community.

“Working families in the Bronx have been forced to pay the price for a city that keeps getting more expensive while government looks the other way. That has to change. Our administration is putting communities like Hunts Point at the center of our work to address the affordability crisis,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Making sure every New Yorker can buy fresh, affordable groceries in their own neighborhood is a key part of our affordability agenda. We are proud to begin this work in the South Bronx and remain committed to opening a store in every borough before the end of our first term.”

“No family in the Bronx should have to choose between rent and groceries,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “This summer, we will issue a request for proposals to bring in operators who meet our affordability standards, and we will have a store open in Hunts Point by 2027. This is what public investment looks like when it is done right — government setting the terms, holding to a timeline, and making sure the benefits reach the families who need them most.”

Last month, the administration announced La Marqueta in East Harlem as the first site selected for the municipal grocery store program. The Mamdani administration plans to open one store in each borough by the end of the Mayor’s first term.

Mayor Mamdani and NYCEDC also announced the launch of the N.Y.C. Groceries Sites Portal to identify potential locations for future stores in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. Property owners with eligible sites are encouraged to submit them through the portal for consideration as the N.Y.C. Groceries initiative expands.

“The selection of The Peninsula is a historic win for Hunts Point, and we are very proud that the Bronx will be the first borough where the first N.Y.C. Grocery store will open by end of 2027 and serve a community that has been neglected in the past,” said NYCEDC Interim President & CEO Jeanny Pak. “And with the launch of the N.Y.C. Groceries Sites Portal, the city is taking bold action to address the affordability crisis, and we encourage all property owners in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island that meet the criteria to submit their sites for consideration.”

The Peninsula, an NYCEDC project, is the multiyear redevelopment of the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Facility in Hunts Point. The dynamic, mixed-use campus will include 740 units of 100% affordable housing, more than 50,000 square feet of new public open space, 30,000 square feet of light industrial space, more than 50,000 square feet of community space and 20,000 square feet of commercial space that will house the South Bronx’s municipal grocery store.

“I am grateful to Mayor Mamdani and the New York City Economic Development Corporation for their work to open a public grocery store at the Peninsula in Hunts Point and strengthen food access across the South Bronx,” said Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “Access to affordable, fresh food should not be a luxury determined by zip code; it should be a right.”

“I am thrilled to hear that the second site for Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Municipal Grocery Store will be at The Peninsula in Hunts Point,” said State Senator Jose Serrano. “As the Senator for the 29th Senate District, representing neighborhoods that battle food insecurity, this site is important in ensuring our communities have vital access to affordable food. Many thanks to Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his team for this investment in Hunts Point and our Bronx residents.”

Hunts Point is a community where more than half of households have relied on public assistance within the last year, and where a staggering 77% of households in surrounding neighborhoods struggle to afford basic necessities.

First announced in April, the N.Y.C. Groceries Project is a NYCEDC initiative designed to lower the cost of everyday essentials by utilizing City-owned property, where available, to reduce overhead costs that are currently passed on to consumers. Mayor Mamdani has allocated $70 million in capital funding to develop five grocery store sites across the five boroughs. 

“From the very beginning, the Hunts Point community was clear: The Peninsula should become a vibrant, mixed-use center that provides not just affordable housing but also the amenities residents need and deserve,” said James Patchett, CEO of Gilbane Development. “A neighborhood grocery store was central to our vision from day one and we are excited to officially announce a new supermarket. Once opened, it will have an immediate impact on the community and serve as another powerful reminder of how our campus is making Hunts Point healthier and more affordable for generations to come.”

“The Hudson Companies is proud to support Mayor Mamdani’s effort to bring affordable, high-quality groceries directly to Bronx residents who need them most,” said David Kramer, President of The Hudson Companies. “Integrating a public grocery store into The Peninsula reflects our commitment to building developments that combine housing with neighborhood infrastructure, improving everyday quality of life. We look forward to partnering with City Hall and NYCEDC to expand food access in The Bronx and help build stronger, healthier communities.”

Mayor Mamdani’s decision to site a municipal grocery store at The Peninsula builds on the City’s broader commitment to transforming the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Facility — once known for dangerous and inhumane conditions — into a community-centered development with affordable housing, early childhood education, wellness services, public open space, and soon, New York City’s first operational public grocery store.

Sites submitted through the N.Y.C. Groceries Portal will be reviewed by NYCEDC to identify and advance potential locations for further consideration. Eligible sites must include at least 10,000 square feet of retail space and be available on a timeline that supports opening of a grocery store by 2029. 

NYCEDC is also preparing a request for proposals for private operators to manage the stores, which is expected to be released this summer.

The N.Y.C. Groceries Sites Portal will remain open until locations in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island have been identified. Additional information is available on the N.Y.C. Groceries webpage.

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