Newspaper stands, stock full of candy bars and soft drinks, can be found on New York City sidewalks and inside various subway stations. They’re largely integrated into the framework of the city, but actual newspaper sales have drastically dropped over the years.
According to Robert Bookman, the president of the New York City Newsstand Operators Association, it’s still very much a “penny business,” with owners making a few cents in profit for the sale of a $1 paper.
In fact, since the '50s, the number of sidewalk stands has substantially fallen from 1,500 to about 300 today. To stay in business, operators also sell candy, refreshments and lottery tickets. But they aren’t getting much in return from the sales. A newsstand operator would do well to earn $30,000 in annual revenue, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Subway stands haven’t fared much better.
Although they are operated separately from those located on the sidewalk, nearby pharmacies, such a Duane Reade, have made the business extremely competitive. Bookman suspects that the number of newsstands will continue to dwindle in the coming years.
Today, they are largely run by immigrants seeking entrepreneurial opportunities. One such stand exists in the Herald Square train station. I recently dropped by this location for a quick pick-me-up before my commute home. As I handed over $1.50 for a bag of nuts, a few customers wandered in and out of the store. Its operator, who lives 45 minutes away in the Bronx, hasn’t been in the business long - just two years - but his outlook seems to be largely positive.
Despite what appears to be a dim future for New York City newsstands, he states, “Everything is good. There’s discipline. Everything is happy. New York City people are good.”
“I like my family here. My son, my girl.“
