The Mam-and-pop is a pile of slop.<\/p>\n
Big Apple officials took prospective bidders on a pathetic tour Wednesday of a trash-strewn empty lot in East Harlem where Mayor Zohran Mamdani\u2019s planned $30 million city-owned grocery store<\/a> is supposed to become reality.<\/p>\n The bidders wore hardhats on the city Economic Development Corporation-led tour to the under-the-Metro-North viaduct site next to La Marqueta, despite no work actually being done yet.<\/p>\n Big Apple officials took prospective bidders on a tour Wednesday of an empty lot in East Harlem. Matthew McDermott for NY Post<\/p>\n They stayed tightlipped about their visit, with one telling The Post they\u2019re not even sure their outfit will submit a bid. Others flat-out declined to comment, leaving the tour\u2019s organizers to hype up the project \u2014 while implicitly acknowledging it\u2019s a giant experiment.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are very cautiously optimistic about this potential project and what this potential project means to the community and food deserts,\u201d said Phillip Grant, founder and CEO of business consulting firm Phillip Grant & Associates.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has to be a full, transparent partnership. We also have to get the public involved. There\u2019s other things we have to think about: market forces, transportation, weather. So we have to ensure whatever model an operator like myself or a group that we put together build, that it can be flexible\u00a0enough\u00a0to adapt to those concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n As Grant talked about \u201cfood deserts,\u201d he stood a stone\u2019s throw from American Deli Mini Mart along Park Avenue \u2014 where owner Elvis Arias, 33, sells sandwiches and worries about losing business to the planned city-owned store.<\/p>\n Elvis Arias, 33, worries his bodega business will suffer. Matthew McDermott for NY Post<\/p>\n The new competition from city government is a slap in the face, especially as taxes are so high, Arias said.<\/p>\n City Hall would have to give him a tobacco license to keep the deli competitive, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m lucky I have the beer!\u201d Elvis quipped. \u201cThey won\u2019t have beer over there<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants to open five city-owned grocery stores across the city. AP Photo\/Ryan Murphy<\/p>\n Mamdani promised during his mayoral campaign to open five city-owned supermarkets, one in each borough, that would help bring down the cost of groceries.<\/p>\n Once in office, Mamdani pledged a core basket of staples, not including alcohol, would be sold at a 30% discount<\/a> \u2014 although details remain vague.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n