Magazine Stands: An Urban Institution

While most readers probably get their magazines through the mail by annual subscription, many prefer to pick them up on the street at urban news racks or kiosks. And these newsstands on street corners are one of the great American urban institutions. And not only are these a fixture in cities across the USA, they are also a part of city life all over the world, from Moscow to Paris to Buenos Aires and Tokyo.

In the subways of the world, for example, one of the most common small businesses is that of the magazine stand. Commuters and travelers can pop into the station, buy something to read, and then leaf through their magazine while riding the trains. Or they can buy a magazine along with a cup of coffee, a pack of cigarettes, some gum for the kids, or other quick and inexpensive items that are basic staples for those in a hurry in the big city. One immigrant told the story of how he moved to New York City from a small village in India, and was in need of a job. He found work at a magazine stand in New York’s Grand Central Station, selling magazines and newspapers from a tiny kiosk. His wages were meager, but he continued to build a steady clientele, and as he expanded his customer base, he also expanded his inventory of magazines and other items like snacks and beverages. Within five years, he managed to make and save enough money to buy his own motel, which he ran for several years before selling it and moving into other business ventures. He eventually amassed enough wealth to buy a gigantic house in a rather fancy neighborhood, and he still attributed his start and his success to the curbside magazine vending business he first learned in the subways of New York.

And similar venues exist in every train station or airport in the world, where magazine racks are crammed into available space for those passing through to browse and buy. Hotels and other way stations for travelers are another major venue for the magazine vendors of the world. Many road weary travelers will count on finding a magazine shop open late at night, so that they can pick up a newspaper, a magazine, and maybe a paperback novel to help them relax and unwind after a long hard day of changing planes or fighting traffic on the freeway.

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