News Summary
John Catsimatidis, owner of Gristedes, worries about the implications of Zohran Mamdani’s potential election as NYC mayor. Mamdani’s progressive policies, which include city-owned grocery stores and rent freezes, present challenges for established businesses like Catsimatidis’. As the general election approaches, the tension between traditional business operations and emerging political ideologies grows.
New York – John Catsimatidis, the owner of the Gristedes supermarket chain, has announced his concerns regarding the potential election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City. Following Mamdani’s surprising victory in the Democratic primary on June 25, 2025, Catsimatidis indicated he may consider relocating his grocery business and possibly selling his operations if Mamdani wins the general election. This development illustrates the rising tension between established businesses and emerging political ideologies in the city.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist, emerged victorious after a competitive primary campaign that saw him face former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. His platform primarily focuses on enhancing affordability for low-income residents, highlighted by plans to establish city-owned, nonprofit grocery stores aimed at lowering food prices by eliminating rental and tax expenses typically associated with private businesses.
Catsimatidis voiced his opposition to Mamdani’s grocery store initiative, stating that his company would struggle to compete with government-operated stores that do not incur similar costs. Alongside Gristedes, Catsimatidis manages a range of enterprises under his Red Apple Group brand, encompassing real estate and energy sectors. In light of Mamdani’s primary success, he is now contemplating relocating his company’s headquarters to New Jersey and moving his residence to Florida.
The implications of Mamdani’s victory extend beyond grocery stores. His campaign includes a variety of progressive proposals, one of which is making public transportation free. Additionally, he aims to freeze rent prices and increase the minimum wage to $30 per hour by the year 2030. The ambitious grocery store plan involves reallocating city funds that currently support private supermarkets to facilitate the creation of city-owned stores.
Some critics, notably figures within the grocery industry, argue that the opening of government-operated stores is not a viable solution for spurring competition. They suggest that enforcing existing antitrust laws would yield more significant benefits for consumers. Despite this backlash, Mamdani has attracted a considerable base of support, including many voters who participated in their first Democratic primary, reflecting his ability to engage and mobilize new constituents.
In his victory speech, Mamdani underscored the message that New Yorkers are advocating for a city where living costs are manageable. Looking ahead, Mamdani is poised to face current Mayor Eric Adams, who is expected to run as an independent candidate. The competition will also include Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
In addition to his proposals concerning grocery stores and transportation, Mamdani’s campaign promotes free childcare services for children aged six weeks to five years and pledges to appoint individuals to the Rent Guidelines Board to halt rent increases on rent-stabilized apartments. However, many of his policies have drawn criticism, with some political figures and community leaders describing them as extreme.
As of now, John Catsimatidis has refrained from addressing the election results or Mamdani’s policy proposals following the primary win. This silence leaves many in the business community and political landscape speculating about how the situation will evolve as the general election approaches.
The contrasting visions represented by Catsimatidis and Mamdani encapsulate a broader debate about the future economic and social direction of New York City as it prepares for potentially significant shifts in its leadership and policies.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Forbes: Zohran Mamdani’s Most Surprising Proposals
- Fox News: City-Run Grocery Stores and More
- National Review: Problems with City-Owned Grocery Stores
- Google Search: Zohran Mamdani
- Fox Business: Billionaire CEO Warns on Grocery Stores
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Grocery Stores
