NYC gets its first ‘free grocery store’ — but it’s not what Mamdani had in mind

New Yorkers are embracing a free market.

Hundreds of people lined up Thursday for a chance to shop at the city’s “first free grocery store” – launched by Polymarket as it and other prediction betting platforms face increased scrutiny from state regulators.

The West Village shop — an apparent nod to Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s government-run grocery store pitch — drew more than 400 New Yorkers who lined up hours ahead of the 2 p.m. opening, eager to fill blue tote bags with no-cost produce, non-perishables and toiletries.

“Times are hard. Things are very expensive, so this helps,” said Forest Hills resident Tori Hall, who was second in line outside the pop-up store. “It goes a long way.”

The stunt followed a similar move from rival prediction market Kalshi, which hosted a $50 grocery giveaway for East Village shoppers earlier this month.

Mamdani cheekily responded to Polymarket’s free store announcement this month on X, posting a photo of a sardonic headline reading: “Heartbreaking: The worst person you know just made a great point.”

The popular betting app, which allows users to gamble on world events like military actions and political outcomes, has drawn concerns over the possible use of classified or otherwise “insider” information to wager.

Just this week, an Israel Defense Forces reservationist and a civilian were indicted in Israel over allegedly using classified military information to place bets on the platform, according to The Block, a cryptocurrency news site.

Prediction markets have also drawn the ire of New York Attorney General Leticia James, who in a pre-Super Bowl “consumer alert” warned that the platforms could violate state gambling laws and put users at “significant financial risk.”

State Assemblymember Clyde Vanel (D-Queens) introduced a bill last year that would categorize prediction market contracts as “unlicensed gambling.” 

Violator sites would get dinged with civil fines of up to $50,000, or up to $1 million each day that platforms offer bets on “sensitive” categories like deadly incidents and political elections.

Shoppers at Polymarket’s free store, however, seemed unbothered by the controversies, telling The Post they hoped the market’s offerings were here to stay for good.

“If it is [a publicity stunt] then I got some free food coming out of here…This is exactly what a food bank does,” said Hall, a 58-year-old paralegal and mother, who arrived at 6 a.m. to be among the first in line.

She scored basics like socks, tampons, toilet paper, bananas, apples, ground beef and cartons of organic eggs.

“I hate going grocery shopping because I’m spending $150 to $200 every time,” she said. “We just need a helping hand.”

“Groceries cost a lot. It’s terrible,” concurred East Harlem resident Dayna V., who was the very first in the queue — and walked away with three tote bags filled to the brim with food and household products.

“The eggs right now, it’s $10 and up, so this [free store] is good,” said the 43-year-old Manhattanite, who is unemployed.

“I love Polymarket!” she exclaimed, showing off her haul of Cheerios, juice, sweet potato chips and fabric softener. “I hope they … create more of it, and I hope this is really here to stay in the future.”

The Charles Street store will be open from 2 to 5 p.m. until Monday.

In a statement, Polymarket said it also donated $1 million to the Food Bank for NYC “to help fight food insecurity across all five boroughs.”

Grocery store prices in New York City skyrocketed 65.8% between 2012-23 and 2022-23, according to a state comptroller’s office report released last year.

The same report found that 1 in 9 households in the state experienced food insecurity between 2020 and 2022, with the majority of food-insecure households residing in the five boroughs.

Software engineer Luke McInerney, 31, of Manhattan, brought a fold up chair and worked on his laptop as he waited for the grocery store to open.

“I just think this is a quintessential New York experience,” he said. “Everyone out here in the cold together. There’s a camaraderie to it.”