The leading aide for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s government-run grocery store initiative has hinted at the possibility of handing taxpayer cash to local shops whose business could be affected by the project.

Waverly Neer, the lead official for NYC Groceries at the Economic Development Corporation (EDC), told Spectrum News that officials are considering several ways to support local businesses in East Harlem, where Mamdani plans to build one of his five city-run grocery stores.

‘We’re, as an agency, looking at a number of different complementary policies and programs, grants and incentives that can come alongside these grocery stores to support other local independent businesses in the neighborhood,’ Neer said.

Neer added that grants for local grocers are a possibility as officials explore different options and added that the EDC would work alongside businesses affected by the project.

Mamdani announced in April that East Harlem would be the site of the first store, which is expected to cost a whopping $30million.

‘At our stores, eggs will be cheaper, bread will be cheaper,’ he said during a 100-day address. ‘Grocery shopping will no longer be an unsolvable equation.’

But critics say the socialist-style storefronts could harm private businesses and drive billionaires out of the city, pointing to failed attempts in the US and around the world.

Mamdani, a self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist, pushed back on those concerns, saying he had a ‘simple’ answer.

Waverly Neer, the lead official for NYC Groceries at the Economic Development Corporation, told Spectrum News that local businesses in East Harlem will receive support and possibly grants to help support them following the launch of Zohran Mamdani’s government-run grocery store initiative

In April, the NYC mayor announced that the first city-owned grocery store would open in 2027 at his 100-day address

‘I look forward to the competition,’ Mamdani said. ‘May the most affordable grocery store win.’

The remark stood in stark contrast to comments made by Neer on Wednesday.

Prospective bidders visited the proposed site at La Marqueta with EDC officials, according to Spectrum.

Bidders toured an empty lot beneath the Metro-North viaduct, where grocery operator Mark Goris told the outlet that he believes East Harlem residents would welcome the mayor’s project.

‘I’m glad that the mayor did address it because a lot of people are struggling, I mean, with these food prices, inflation,’ Goris said. ‘I think the people in this area would appreciate something like this.’

However, he acknowledged that local businesses would now have to share the market with a city-run competitor.

He added that if the grocery store opened while he was operating a store in the area, he would view it as a problem.

Mamdani said that he hoped the city-run grocery store at La Marqueta would be able to serve roughly 25,000 customers on a daily basis 

Tobacco and lottery products, which are among the most popular items sold at the city’s corner stores, will not be offered at the city-run grocery stores

But as a New Yorker who sees people struggling every day, he said he would support the project.

Elvis Arias, who owns a shop near the project site, told the New York Post that he is worried his business will lose customers once the grocery store opens.

Arias said he felt the move was disrespectful considering how much he already pays the city in taxes.

The shop owner is requesting a tobacco license from City Hall so he can better compete with the city-run store.

‘I’m lucky I have the beer,’ Arias quipped. ‘They won’t have beer over there.’

Tobacco and lottery products, which are among the most popular items sold at the city’s corner stores, will not be offered at the city-run grocery stores.

Mamdani said in April that the decision to open the first store at La Marqueta was a nod to former New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia.

La Guardia opened the Park Avenue Retail Market in the same area in 1936, and La Marqueta is considered its successor.

About 65,000 New Yorkers will live within a 10-minute walk of the city’s first grocery store. Mamdani added that he hopes the store will serve about 25,000 customers per day.

The first store is expected to open in 2027, followed by four others across the city’s remaining boroughs.