Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s promised city-owned grocery stores won’t require ID from shoppers, his administration confirmed Monday — allowing non-New Yorkers to take advantage of the discounted goods.
The five planned taxpayer-subsidized stores — which are set to sell a “core basket of goods” at 30% below retail prices — will offer a free, voluntary membership card program, though documents show it will not require a residency check.
Mamdani administration officials revealed the membership program last week when facing questions from reporters about how they’d stop bad actors from buying in bulk and taking advantage of the deals on offer.
The officials insisted they were focused on offering discounts to “every day New Yorkers” despite the savings card being a voluntary program and not a requirement to enter the store.
“We are looking to make sure that we target New Yorkers whether it be a sort of library card-esque thing and also we manage who’s buying and that it is focused on everyday New Yorkers,” Jeanny Pak, the interim president and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, said on July 27.
The admin’s “request for proposal” documents seeking contact offers from businesses interested in operating the stores provide additional information on the “savings card program,” including that it must be “made easily available to any individual requesting” it, and does not require proof of residency, contrary to reports.
An administration spokesperson said the program would function like a normal supermarket loyalty card to be designed by the private operator of the store to help manage supply and prevent re-selling.
“NYC Grocery stores will be open to everyone. There will be no system to verify identity, residency, or income, and no one will be asked to show ID to shop,” the City Hall rep confirmed in a statement to The Post.
Mamdani has earmarked $70 million for construction of the city-owned supermarkets, and has vowed to open one in each borough.
Only two out of the five promised stores have specific locations finalized so far, and the first one, in Hunts Point, The Bronx, won’t open until at least 2027.
