Billionaire Grocer: I’ll Close My Stores If Mamdani Wins

The Free Press reports:

After decades of running Gristedes Supermarkets, the iconic Manhattan-based grocery chain, billionaire John Catsimatidis says one thing could cause him to throw in the towel: if 33-year-old socialist Zohran Mamdani becomes the next mayor of New York City.

“We may consider closing our supermarkets and selling the business,” the 76-year-old entrepreneur told me. “We have other businesses. Thank God, we have other businesses.”

He went a step further, saying he might even move Red Apple Group, his conglomerate with assets in real estate, energy, and other industries, across the river. “There’s the possibility we’d move our corporate offices to New Jersey. Why not?” he said. “Then you’d have four years of peace.”

Read the full article.

Of note, Mamdani has proposed opening city-run non-profit grocery stores in New York City’s “food deserts” where major chains have opted against operating.

Catsimatidis also owns New York City’s once-storied WABC, now a far-right talk radio station that hosts shows by Rudy Giuliani and other cultists.

In 2022, he claimed that Giuliani needed “stents” after a pat on the back by a man whom Giuliani accused of assault.

Catsimatidis ran failed bids for NYC mayor in 2009 and 2013 and is a Trump megadonor.

“After decades of running Gristedes Supermarkets, the iconic Manhattan-based grocery chain, billionaire John Catsimatidis says one thing could cause him to throw in the towel: if 33-year-old socialist Zohran Mamdani becomes the next mayor of New York City.

‘We may consider… pic.twitter.com/zj5sZ39czA

— The Free Press (@TheFP) June 18, 2025