The Multicultural Business Coalition has sued New York City and Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration over plans for five municipal grocery stores, arguing the outlets would create unfair competition for immigrant- and minority-owned grocers and bodegas. Plaintiffs want all rollout activity stopped until the city completes land-use review, study and analysis they say is needed to protect existing vendors. The city has pledged $70 million for stores offering core goods at a planned 30% discount, with rent support from the Economic Development Corporation; the first Bronx location is slated for 2027 and all five by 2029. The coalition says site choices such as East Harlem’s La Marqueta are arbitrary and ignore nearby Hispanic- and Korean-owned supermarkets, while EDC officials cite factors including city-owned property, transit access, income levels and density and say subsidies for some private grocers are under consideration. Mamdani has expressed confidence the initiative is legal and important for affordability as urban food costs have climbed sharply in recent years.