Long line forms for Kalshi's free grocery event in New York

Hundreds of people queued for Kalshi’s free grocery promotion at Westside Market in New York, with some waiting almost two hours in freezing temperatures for a $50 credit to spend at the store. The promotion was positioned as a grab at groceries amid high prices and was described as part of a grocery-off with Polymarket.

Most people in line said they had not heard of Kalshi or prediction markets and were primarily motivated by the free food. Crypto influencers and others often observed the queue without joining it, while Kalshi staff handed out hot coffee and offered QR codes that could load the $50 to the Westside Market app.

Inside the store the scene was orderly rather than chaotic, and staff controlled entry so the line outside moved slowly. Shoppers rationed the $50 amid high prices, focusing on meat and premade meals while leaving beverages and some produce less picked over. Kalshi branding in the store was limited, and the activation generated extensive filming and online attention.

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