Mamdega (Mayor Zohran Mamdani + bodega)

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani took office in 2026, and one of his campaign promises was city-owned grocery stores, where food would be cheaper and more healthy. The portmanteau term “Mamdega” (Mamdani + bodega) was used by some.
 
“This brings up a real problem. How will we refer to them? Bodanis? Mamdegas?” was posted on Bluesky by hugdad503 on June 25, 2025. “Mamdega” was posted on Bluesky by P. Y. Mund on June 26, 2025. “The Mamdegas—as we’re calling them here at Breitbart, combining the New York City term bodega and the name of the mayor—will discount a ‘core basket’ of government-approved, allegedly healthy groceries” was written in the article “Breitbart Business Digest: The Fatal Economics of Mamdani’s Government Grocery Stores” by John Carney in Breitbart on July 28, 2026.
   
       
Bluesky   
hugdad503
@helps.bsky.social
This brings up a real problem. How will we refer to them? Bodanis? Mamdegas?
William Burns
@williameburns.bsky.social
· Jun 25, 2025
You’re walking down the street, it’s hot, sure could use a can of something cold, realize there’s a Mamdanistore three steps away. . .100 percent? Really?
12:38 PM · Jun 25, 2025
 
Bluesky
P. Y. Mund
@pymundgenealogy.com
That manteau doesn’t port
Try ‘Mamdegas’
3:22 PM · Jun 26, 2025
 
Bluesky
P. Y. Mund
@pymundgenealogy.com
Mamdega
5:41 PM · Jun 26, 2025
 
Breitbart
Breitbart Business Digest: The Fatal Economics of Mamdani’s Government Grocery Stores
by John Carney 28 Jul 2026
The mayor said on Monday that the Mamdegas would sell produce, meat, and a host of other kitchen staples at a 30 percent discount to what privately owned grocers offer in the city.

The stores will not be run by the city directly. Instead, private operators are being invited to bid for contracts to run five city-owned stores, one in each borough. The city will pay for the construction of the stores and waive property taxes. It will also subsidize their operations to help pay for the discount.
(...)
The Mamdegas—as we’re calling them here at Breitbart, combining the New York City term bodega and the name of the mayor—will discount a “core basket” of government-approved, allegedly healthy groceries. These will include produce, meat, seafood, pasta, bread, yogurt, butter, nuts, rice, and beans. The stores will not be offering hot food in an effort to avoid competing with local businesses offering those products.
(...)
The Mamdega Economy: Thirty Percent Off, While Supplies Last
(...)
The Road From Mamdegas to Ration Cards
 
X/Twitter
Texas_4_Trump-Kenny
@TexasTrump2024
The Fatal Economics of Mamdani’s Government Grocery Stores
 
The ’Mamdega’ Economy: Thirty Percent Off, While Supplies Last!
 
Next Up: Rationing!
 
The mayor said on Monday that the Mamdegas would sell produce, meat, and a host of other kitchen staples at a 30 percent discount to what privately owned grocers offer in the city.
 
The stores will not be run by the city directly. Instead, private operators are being invited to bid for contracts to run five city-owned stores, one in each borough. The city will pay for the construction of the stores and waive property taxes.
6:58 PM · Jul 28, 2026
   
X/Twitter
John Carney
@carney
That’s a good point. Who is going to make the trip to the Mamdega just for bread?
8:26 PM · Jul 28, 2026
 
RAIR Foundation USA
Death of the Bodegas: NYC and Mamdani Get Smacked with Lawsuit Over Soviet-Style Grocery Stores
Terresa Monroe-Hamilton July 29, 2026
(...)
Birth of the Mamdegas
The Democratic Socialist mayor unveiled a plan this week to open five new city-run grocery stores that would sell products at 30% below market rates,