Zohran Mamdani’s City-Owned Grocery Plan Faces Scrutiny After Viral Kansas City’s Store Video

Last Updated:July 25, 2025, 19:37 IST

Mamdani has promoted his plan for state-owned grocery stores as a way to shift public funds away from corporate retailers.

KC Sun Fresh has suffered significant financial losses, reportedly close to $900,000 over the past year (X Image)

Zohran Mamdani won the Democratic primary last month and has since emerged as one of the leading contenders for the position of New York City mayor. Currently focused on his campaign, Mamdani has outlined several proposals, one of which includes the creation of city-owned grocery stores.

However, just weeks after his victory, a viral video has cast doubt on the feasibility of such an initiative. Footage of an empty public grocery store in Kansas City, Missouri, has attracted criticism online. The video, reportedly filmed at KC Sun Fresh, shows rows of bare shelves, as reported by KSHB 41.

According to Fox Business, KC Sun Fresh has suffered significant financial losses, reportedly close to $900,000 over the past year. Despite receiving taxpayer funding since its launch in 2018, the store is now nearing closure and has struggled to keep products in stock. A social media user shared the video on X, captioning it, “Watch this, Mamdani supporters," suggesting a cautionary tale for city-owned grocery proposals.

Mamdani has promoted his plan for state-owned grocery stores as a way to shift public funds away from corporate retailers and into community-based markets. He argues that this model would reduce grocery prices for consumers. “These stores will operate without a profit motive, or having to pay property taxes or rent, and will pass on those savings to you," he explained in one of his TikTok videos, as cited by The New York Times.

Speaking on The Bulwark podcast, Mamdani said he plans to open one store in each of New York City’s five boroughs. He estimated the total cost of the project at $65 million.

Acknowledging the experimental nature of the idea, Mamdani said, “if they work, they work. And if they don’t work, c’est la vie, then the idea was wrong."

This is not the first time a public official has proposed city-owned grocery initiatives. In 2023, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced a similar concept following the closure of Walmart and a Whole Foods in his city. His administration is now exploring the possibility of launching a city-run farmers’ market, where vendors could sell their produce directly at one centralised location.

New York, United States of America (USA)

News world Zohran Mamdani’s City-Owned Grocery Plan Faces Scrutiny After Viral Kansas City’s Store Video