There are at least 76,000 supermarkets in the United States. Most of us probably have a dozen within 10 miles of home.
Nevertheless, leftists are constantly trying to convince us that we need government-run grocery stores. The latest person is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has promised to open five city-run markets to combat “out-of-control” prices by getting rid of the “profit motive,” passing on the savings to consumers.
The first glaring problem with Mamdani’s plan is that the “profit motive” is the best device to create savings.
Mamdani says he looks “forward to the competition” from the private sector, and “may the most affordable grocery store win.” It’s not really “competition” when a government official untethered from the “profit motive” can use endless taxpayer subsidies to keep his business afloat.
The Mamdani Mart in Harlem, for instance, will be built on land already owned by the city, and it’s still going to cost $30 million according to the mayor, if government estimates are right, a rarity.
In the real world, these exorbitant costs would be passed on to consumers. In the Mamdani world, the cost is tacked on to an already $5.4 billion budget deficit.
To put the cost into context, a new Aldi costs around $1.5 million to $3 million on average to construct, not including the cost of the land. Other chains might cost around $3 million to $5 million. Aldi keeps costs as low as possible because they are governed by the profit motive.
An Aldi can be built as quickly as six weeks. Mamdani’s supermarket won’t be open until 2029. Maybe.
New York City could hand over $30 million to any major chain, and it would get at least three self-sustaining retail stores up and running within a year. Then again, Democrats could just stop placating their corrupt union donors by blocking Walmart from opening stores in the city; it would cost nothing.
When the state-run KC Sun Fresh supermarket opened in Kansas City, it was supposed to help alleviate the “food deserts.” At first, it was run by private grocers. But without the profit motive, they abandoned the project. By 2024, the supermarket was losing nearly $1 million a year, averaging around 4,000 shoppers, down from 14,000. Those who showed up were confronted with empty shelves, unchecked shoplifting, and barely any healthy produce. It closed in 2025.
And when political considerations are your concern rather than profit motives, you end up building retail establishments that aren’t needed.
Within a mile of the site of Mamdani’s new $30 million tax-funded supermarket in Harlem, there are, according to Google Maps, at least a dozen grocers, everything from an Aldi to a Whole Foods. It’s less than a nine-minute walk to a big supermarket from the proposed site and a three-minute walk to a fresh produce market.
New Yorkers should demand their government work with the efficiency of a supermarket, not the other way around.
If Mamdani wants more supermarkets in Harlem, he should work to cut the bureaucratic hell that potential business owners are forced to traverse to open a store. New York City is already home to one of the highest corporate tax rates in the country, yet Mamdani supports an effort to significantly increase them.
During the Cold War, the American supermarket was often held up as the model of prosperity. When the Soviet Union was petering out in 1989, Boris Yeltsin toured a Randalls in Houston, resulting in the famous pictures of the wide-eyed future Russian president perusing the wide variety of food available to average people living under capitalism.
Yeltsin said that “there would be a revolution” in the Soviet Union if people saw the availability. “Even the Politburo doesn’t have this choice,” he said. “Not even Mr. Gorbachev.”
Today, grocery chains are often depicted as predatory and monopolistic endeavors by Marxists like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren because it’s easy to rile up consumers who are agitated by inflation. Supermarkets have some of the lowest profit margins of any business in the country, usually around 1% to 3%. Successful chains stay competitive by adapting quickly, leaning on high-volume, high-turnover sales, cost-cutting and intricate supply chains.
Government isn’t exactly nimble.
There’s no doubt that living in dense urban areas is expensive. Many in the media depict Mamdani’s plan as a harmless effort to help poor people deal with the vagaries and inequities of capitalism with a few affordable grocery stores. Whatever, the government subsidies will become more expensive, crowding out value-producing “competitors.”
It’s a shame that American leftists have to relearn the most basic and obvious lessons of history and economics.
David Harsanyi is a senior writer at the Washington Examiner. Harsanyi is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of five books – the most recent, “How To Kill a Republic,” available now. His work has appeared in National Review, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Reason, New York Post and numerous other publications.
COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS.COM
Reprinted with permission from cfif.org by David Harsanyi.
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
Government run anything ends up a disaster, why would anyone think a store would be different, I can see the shoplifting and chaos. It is too bad that a voter refuses to see. How many did not bother to vote, that would explain how he got in plus a little alterations.
Hellbent on destruction of the local economy. These socialists are as ignorant as they come. Other people’s money is what they want. It is not about efficient businesses.
I am from the government, i am here to help. This statement should freeze the blood of every freedom loving American. As far the New York Jerk-off is concerned, the only people he cares about are his fellow goat herders. He wants to make New York Goat Herder Capital eventually. And he’s found a city of rubes that;s gonna help him.
Looks like the California speed rail fiasco, only this time it’s NYC and will result in long lines for a $10 loaf of bread, if the building ever gets completed .
30 million dollar per store. Plan for 4 more for a total of 5. At an estimated cost of 150 million dollars as of today. 3 years to build each store that will take 15 years. With the inflationary prices started under Biden and still holding on we are talking double the cost and the people paying taxes into this endeavor might not be alive in 15 years. Mamdani won’t even be mayor anymore. And no one in Harlem or any other Burrough in New York will ever see any benefits from this idiotic plan. Why not lower the city tax on groceries. Give those under a certain income subsidies from this boondoggle. Because the savings to the people will be negligible if you figure the taxes they have to pay in order to get cheaper groceries. Plus what is Mamdani building a Taj Mahal of a grocery store. If the private sector can build one for 5 million why does he need 30 million. We all know. A little for him and for his cronies that attached themselves to his coattails. By the time that store is built. He will no longer be mayor of NYC. It’s all smoke and mirrors people. Robbing Peter to pay Peter and calling it a success. And bankrupting the city in the interim. Open your eyes New Yorkers. Mamdani doesn’t care about you. He is working at destroying the city and its people. When the millionaires leave town you know you are on a sinking ship. Especially Wall Street money is getting out and taking tax money with it.
Home New Yorkers (or is it Wokers?) enjoy what they voted for as their Communist mayor continues doing what his 9/11 buddies started with the hijacked planes.
Howis this socialism permitted in the USA? For that matter, how are these “democratic socialists” (a nonsensical term anyway) permitted in our Congress or ANY American office?
Stop believing state and federal liars, they don’t care about you, everything they touch turns in to a disaster for all of us, and there’s nothing we can do about it. The only reason Mamdani’s (Democrats) pushing for government-run grocery stores is to take control of us, you do something “they” deem inappropriate and they’ll cut off your food supply. What better way to control you? If you think crime is bad now just wait until people have nothing to eat, break-ins, muggings, and murders will increase dramatically.
Basically anything that is run by the government is a disaster in the making. A bunch of people that have no idea what they’re doing, that have never done the job they’re trying to do, think they can tell the free market how to do things. And I can tell them what to do! And it has to do with placing things where there is not sunlight. With references to cranial rectal inversion.
Follow the money–it will disappear.
First of all, Mamdani and his followers are NOT Socialists. They are Communists. Second, if anyone has been around for a number of years and if they have a brain, Communism always looks wonderful because all of them lie to get you to trust them. Every Communist nation cruelly oppresses its citizens. They have no voice in anything that occurs and if they dare speak out or do something their oppressors don’t like, they will be sent to a work camp or worse…be killed. Some probably think being killed would be the better of the two. These Communists have been brain washing our youngest for the last 60 years. It is worth it to them to spend the time it takes because once they are in power, no one really has a way to get rid of them. I am 81 and a history student and anyone else who has been around that long and knew what was happening in the world can tell you the same thing. So keep on believing the Democrat/Communists lies and see what happens. I am praying that it does not overcome everything til I am dead and I also pray it never happens. If it does, there will be no hope for freedom of humanity. And if the Muslims install Sharia law, it will be death for non-believers.
The NYC mayor could probably save his taxpayers a lot of money by supporting the stores already existing, rather than starting new stores. If he feels compelled to spend taxpayer money, paying the rent and lowering the taxes on the store owners could go a long way to lower grocery prices. Why does the government have to have full control? Oh, wait, it’s the Communist way.
First, the $30 million tag will at least double [like Newscum’s train to nowhere]. Second, the “customers” will shoplift half the goods and Commie won’t mind as that’s their “reparations.” And by running the real grocery stores out of business, the whole area will end with NO shopping places at all!
Just what we need, more government control. When the people run the government it’s a democracy, When the government runs the people it’s tyranny.
Well New York, you voted for Mandani and Hochul! You asked for it. Doesn’t that make you proud?
Don’t care. The lefties are getting what they voted for. And when the high taxes hit them in the a** (after the wealthy people, who were supposed to be paying for this, have moved away), they will finally learn their lesson..but it’ll be too late. I love it!!!
Radical, left-wingers, and Socialist-loving Commies will NEVER EVER learn or accept the FACT that ANYWHERE Socialism or Communism dictatorships, OR radical left-wing Democrat policies have been tried, IT ALWAYS END IN COMPLETE RUIN. THE PEOPLE SUFFER, STARVATION, MISERY, HEARTACHE, AND CRIME AND HOMELESSNESS SKY ROCKETS.
ALSO, THE PEOPLE ARE SADDLED WITH THE CONSTANTLY INCREASING HIGHEST TAXES IN HISTORY WHICH CREATES BANKRUPTCIES, LOST JOBS, LOST HOMES AND PROPERTIES, AND LOST FREEDOMS, RIGHTS, AND LIBERTIES JUST TO MENTION A FEW.
And when the concentrated voting population in these sanctuary cities consists of LAZY ABLE-BODIED PARASITES THAT WON’T WORK AND ONLY WANT FREE STUFF, ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER IGNORANTLY ARROGANT (DUMBASS) VOTERS ELECTING THESE EVIL SOCIALIST AND COMMUNISTS, THINGS QUICKLY TURN TO $H*T.
NYC, ENJOY YOUR RIDE. THE TRAIN WRECK HAS BEGUN.
The individuals who believe this dream that a government run supermarket will be the ideal shopping destination are living in a dream world of illusion. They are expecting bargain prices lower than a Lidi supermarket but with Trader Joe’s staffing levels ofcustomer service. But the reality will be a poorly staffed bare minimum staff—just enough to stock the shelves when they receive deliveries and reliance upon n technology like self service checkouts which is guaranteed to result in massive theft and under scanned of products taken by the shoppers and massive shoplifting. And who’s going to stop the various small businesses that sell food from clearing the shelves of products that they can resell in their stores at much higher prices. At least, the regular grocery supermarkets have loss prevention measures and order products based on the product sales movement on the shelf. Anyone who thinks this is government run supermarket is the perfect solution is going to be highly disappointed
I remember government stores behind an Iron Curtain with totally empty shelves, bribing store clerks to be able to get scarce items, meat, basic groceries, even toilet paper, coal etc. Corruption at every level, misery for all, accept the elites.
It is such a terrible scenario. Socialists are out to destroy our constitution and the uninformed are falling for the prevarications and promises they will never be able to deliver. The solution is most unfortunate. However most of us know the solution
and it shakes us to the core of our being.
Repeal the 19th amendment and this stupidity will stop.
Leftists are Retarded. Especially the politicians.
Voters who vote in garbage like Mamdani are 100% selfish and only care about themselves without a thought of the damage to others. It’s like those wanting their, freely chosen, student loans forgiven. The don’t care one bit that others will have to pay for it. Just as long as they get their free stuff, they are good. It’s like the difference between AARP and AMAC. AARP is for a lot of things that personally would be good for me (as a 68 year old on SS) but bad for the country. Because I am not a totally selfish libtard, I am against these things even though personally, it might be good for me.
I want to see the shelves after the first week. Mamdani will find out just how much the shop lifters love his idea.
The only thing I notice about this article that might give some pause is that is might not be safe to walk that 9 minutes to a grocery store in Harlem. I KNOW it depends upon exact location but getting mugged and robbed of the groceries you just bought has to be a possibility
It really is hard to believe that Leftists can be that stupid, but here we are!
At 30 million dollars I guess the fraud bonus is already built in. JMO
Allow me to explain:
1) You can vote your way in to socialism, but you cannot vote your way out.
2) If one finds oneself a Democrat, there’s no need to take the intelligence test.
You flunked!
The exception being their leaders may not be stupid but they are certainly CORRUPT !
I would have no sympathy for their plight but when it comes to a crashing halt, the rest of us will be forced to bail them out…. It’s happened with NYC before.
When that happens – and it will. They can never again be allowed to govern themselves. They’re just not up to the task. i.e. They’re just too dumb.
I know, I know. SomeHOW, this, too, is Trump’s fault. AmIright?
If the ones who voted for this mayor, believed what he told them, have likely never been outside their borough. The cost alone, they think, will come out of the pockets of the rich, no problem, now the time it takes to construct, they figure, is good for their “hope” life.
Sad how an unwary constituency can be lulled into a false sense of security. And their media is no help. Do you think even ten of the voters in NYC ever get honest news? I had hoped there were more Cubans in this city, who could give a description of “gov-owned”.
These “cheap” grocery stores will just be subsidized by taxes. Historically, as the article mentioned, grocery stores have a 1% to 3% profit ratio. This being the case, why isn’t he building more clothing stores, liquor stores, or auto dealerships that have a much higher profit ratio???? The absolute last thing a politician should try to do is build things. Unless Trump did it, have you ever seen a public building or project get completed on time or under budget??? Face it, Mamdani has never had a real job, knows very little about handling money and even less about construction. The only thing that survives this endiver will be the land and building, because the government already owns it.
I wonder who will get the most tax money to build a $5 million grocery store? Heck I ain’t even a contractor and I would gladly take the $30 million to build the store. I will need lots of advisors and that could cause the price to go over $15 or $20 million to pay them. I would love to get that $30 million contract. I know enough people in my family who are experts in building and construction.
the VOTERS have spoken, follow with enthusiasm the mayor!