On February 12, 2023, dozens of people stood in long lines for hours in freezing temperatures at a newly opened free supermarket in New York City. Sponsored by Polymarket, a prediction market app that allows users to bet on various events, this temporary store offered basic necessities like eggs, bread, fruits, toilet paper, and tampons without any cost. The supermarket, located in the affluent West Village neighborhood of Manhattan, was part of a promotional stunt and was set to operate for only five days with limitations.

This supermarket opening comes as a critique to New York City's newly elected socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who has promised to implement initiatives to provide free groceries to residents, aiming to combat food insecurity in the city. The initiative's launch by a betting app also highlights the relationship between corporate sponsorships and social welfare, sparking discussions on the implications of such promotional tactics. It raises questions about the effectiveness of corporate solutions in addressing systemic issues like hunger and economic disparity.

The event drew significant attention not just for the free groceries but also for its timing and location, showcasing stark contrasts in wealth within New York City. While some residents are incentivized by the appeal of free goods, others criticize the use of a gambling platform to address basic human needs, indicating a broader societal debate on the ethics of business involvement in social programs.