Polymarket to Launch "The Polymarket," a 5-Day Free Pop-Up Grocery Store in New York City
The cryptocurrency prediction platform Polymarket has announced the launch of "The Polymarket," a temporary free grocery store in New York City. This initiative is part of a marketing rivalry with competitor Kalshi and a nod to Mayor Zohran Mamdani's proposal for city-run grocery stores.
Launch Details
Grand Opening: Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET.
Duration: The pop-up is scheduled to run for five days (through February 16).
Location: While a lease has been signed, the specific NYC address has not yet been publicly released as of February 4, 2026.
Offer: The store will be fully stocked with staple items available to all New Yorkers at no cost and with no purchase required.
Community Impact and Partnership
Polymarket has paired this launch with a $1 million donation to the Food Bank For NYC, which will help operate the effort to combat food insecurity across the five boroughs. The company describes the project as a "physical investment" in the community.
Context: The "Free Market" Showdown
The announcement follows a similar event on February 3, 2026, by rival platform Kalshi, which covered up to $50 in free groceries for shoppers at a West Side Market location in Manhattan's East Village. Both companies are leveraging these stunts to highlight "free markets" while navigating a shifting regulatory landscape for prediction platforms in New York.
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