New York City got its first “free grocery store” yesterday but it wasn’t because of Zohran Mamdani.

The store, launched by Polymarket as it and other prediction betting platforms drew more than 400 New Yorkers. New Yorkers lined up two hours before the opening.

The bread lines came sooner then expected.

— spikygeek (@spikygeek) February 13, 2026

Polymarket is a popular betting app, which allows users to gamble on world events like military actions and political outcomes, has drawn concerns over the possible use of classified or otherwise “insider” information to wager. The line to enter the free grocery store stretched for four city blocks. The Polymarket pop-up will remain open until the 16th of February.

Mayor Mamdani was not at all happy about an organization beating him to punch on the free grocery store concept.

Heartbreaking: the worst person you know just made a great point.”-Zohran Mamdani

He’s just pissed because he didn’t think of it first.

So, here we have a 5-day socialist experiment brought on by capitalism. Well played. Well played. New Yorkers will enjoy the warmth of collectivism with a few free boxes of Cheerios and dozens of eggs. Oh, the irony!

The irony of all the anti capitalists that fell for this marketing ploy and waited in line to get in.

— Nikki Darling (@AnarchoDarling) February 13, 2026

Now, residents of The Big Apple are waiting in bread lines (sponsored by for-profit organizations), under the guise of socialist collectivism. This “pop up” is in the West Village-an area not necessarily known for being poverty-ridden. Those in need would have to take a bus. A bus that’s not yet free, like Mamdani promised. In fact, the

Mamdani’s NYC!!

Prices are prominently displayed, and law enforcement appears to be either indifferent or unable to… pic.twitter.com/hRCAvxcww4

— Millennial Conservative ™️ (@Milennial_con) February 12, 2026

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As I’ve said, the Polymarket free grocery store (AKA Bougie Food Bank) is in West Village. The same neighborhood that houses an Erewhon at a private club. While the marketing stunt is helping some New Yorkers, WHO are we really helping, here?

And maybe, if they’re lucky to wait on the streets, trash was removed but doubtful. It’s still piled high. Kind of like the dreams of warm, fuzzy collectivism…

So, who’s “shopping” at this Polymarket? There’s the 58 year-old mom from Forest Hills who is a paralegal. There is the unemployed woman from East Harlem. And then, there’s the 31 year-old software engineer of Manhattan, who brought a folding chair and worked on his laptop as he waited for the store to open. Just for grins, I Googled what a software engineer makes per annum in NYC. The answer I got? Between “$160,109, with some positions earning as much as $325,000 depending on the company size and experience level. Notably, those at larger companies often see higher salaries, averaging around $200,000” (God Bless you, AI…)

I just think this is a quintessential New York experience. Everyone out here in the cold together. There’s a camaraderie to it.”

Oh yeah. The quintessential (new) New Yorker right there. He voted for Mamdani for sure.

A camaraderie on the city streets as people line up for blocks for freebies while the bodega owners Mamdani said he would champion suffer. Oh, the fragrance of collectivism! Melded with stinky trash that’s piled high for weeks now and the smell of God only knows what coming from those drug tents. It’s another day in Mamdani’s New York City.

Camaraderie is the software engineer who makes six figures sitting in line for free food. Not helping a neighbor in need. Not supplying food to neighborhoods who have children with food insecurity. Not donating toiletries to a women’s shelter. Sitting in line with a lawn chair and “working remotely” in the middle of the day-waiting to fill your free bag up with bananas. That’s camaraderie.

Better get those freebies while they last, New Yorkers. I come from a family of old-school immigrants. My family members all grew up in the less-fortunate areas of Manhattan. New Yorkers from their era were some of the most street-smart, straight-shooting people in the world. They did not have much, but would give the shirt off their backs to help a neighbor in need. My mom’s family was one of these families as my grandmother was a widow. They never expected any free handouts. Even though family and friends lived nearby and pitched in, my mother worked two jobs while finishing high school to care for her mother. She still understood the important fact that nothing was free. She had no expectations and placed none on the other family members, neighbors and THE GOVERNMENT. She understood hard work would get her family out of that place of despair. Eventually, it did. But the route out of poverty wasn’t easy.

Now, all of a sudden, all New Yorkers want the easy, free route. Hell, they feel entitled to it even if they are making a decent salary on ONE freaking job. We feel it’s time to give some of you a big, ol’ hint.

So, here it is, from a daughter of an old school New Yorker: Nothing is free. Remember that as this crap show plays out over the next few years.

Featured Photo: Original Artwork by VG, Darleen Click