New York City — On May 18, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced The Peninsula in the Bronx has been selected as the second site for the City’s municipal grocery store program. It will be the first public grocery store to open (in 2027), and is projected to span 20,000 square feet in Hunts Point.
Hunts Point is a South Bronx community where more than half of households have relied on public assistance within the last year, and where 77% of households in surrounding neighborhoods struggle to afford basic necessities.
“No family in the Bronx should have to choose between rent and groceries,” says Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “This summer, we will issue a request for proposals to bring in operators who meet our affordability standards, and we will have a store open in Hunts Point by 2027.”
Last month, La Marqueta in East Harlem was announced as the first site selected for the municipal grocery store program. A reported $70 million in capital funding has been allocated to develop five grocery store sites across the five boroughs, and the Mamdani administration plans to open one store in each borough by the end of his first term.
“The selection of The Peninsula is a historic win for Hunts Point, and we are very proud that the Bronx will be the first borough where the first N.Y.C. Grocery store will open by end of 2027 and serve a community that has been neglected in the past,” says NYCEDC Interim President & CEO Jeanny Pak.
The Peninsula, an NYCEDC project, is the multiyear redevelopment of the former Spofford Juvenile Detention Facility in Hunts Point. The mixed-use campus will include 740 units of 100% affordable housing, more than 50,000 square feet of new public open space, 30,000 square feet of light industrial space, more than 50,000 square feet of community space and 20,000 square feet of commercial space that will house the South Bronx’s municipal grocery store.
“From the very beginning, the Hunts Point community was clear: The Peninsula should become a vibrant, mixed-use center that provides not just affordable housing but also the amenities residents need and deserve,” says James Patchett, CEO of Gilbane Development, lead developer on the Peninsula project. “A neighborhood grocery store was central to our vision from Day 1 and we are excited to officially announce a new supermarket. Once opened, it will have an immediate impact on the community and serve as another powerful reminder of how our campus is making Hunts Point healthier and more affordable for generations to come.”
“The Hudson Companies is proud to support Mayor Mamdani’s effort to bring affordable, high-quality groceries directly to Bronx residents who need them most,” says David Kramer, president of The Hudson Companies, another developer on the project. “Integrating a public grocery store into The Peninsula reflects our commitment to building developments that combine housing with neighborhood infrastructure, improving everyday quality of life. We look forward to partnering with City Hall and NYCEDC to expand food access in The Bronx and help build stronger, healthier communities.”
Eligible future sites must include at least 10,000 square feet of retail space and be available on a timeline that supports opening of a grocery store by 2029. NYCEDC is also preparing a request for proposals for private operators to manage the stores, which is expected to be released this summer.
The New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers.
SOURCE: nyc.gov / Gilbane Development