An association representing thousands of New York City bodegas endorsed Zohran Mamdani’s bid to become mayor Wednesday — even though the group previously criticized the Democratic front-runner’s plan to launch government-owned grocery stores in the five boroughs.

The pilot plan , which would involve opening one city government-owned grocery store in each borough, was harshly panned by Radhames Rodriguez, president of the United Bodegas of America, in late June, days after Mamdani had won the Democratic mayoral primary.

At the time, Rodriguez, who represents some 14,000 bodegas and delis across the city, said he couldn’t back Mamdani because his plan could hurt his members, forcing them to to compete with government entities.

But in a press conference Wednesday with Mamdani at a bo

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