A former grocer and current lawmaker, Rep. Mike Rulli, has voiced strong criticism of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's initiative to open government-run grocery stores. Rulli warned that these stores would operate at a loss, stating, "That supermarket will just bleed red the entire time it's open, from the first time you turn the key until it closes." He added, "And I would bet the farm there's no way these grocery stores last more than five years — they might not even last a year."

Rulli, who grew up in a family grocery business in Ohio, said his experience running a small but thriving two-location store chain has given him insight into the challenges faced by small business owners in New York City. He argued that Mamdani's city-run stores would put hundreds of small businesses out of business, many of which are immigrant-owned.

Mayor Mamdani recently announced that five city-run grocery stores would set prices for a core set of goods at 30% below typical retail prices once a month. While this plan has received support from progressives, it has faced opposition from business groups such as the Multicultural Business Coalition, which the New York Post reported is threatening to sue Mamdani.

Rulli concluded, "So I mean, I don't think the mayor could possibly have asked for a worse situation."

Sources