Breaking: West 4th Street Newsstand Gone

Posted: April 15, 2009 at 8:59 am

Lights Out for West 4th Newsstand 1

Over six months ago, Jeremiah wrote a sprawling piece about the proverbial end of the classic city newsstand. In that time, many such outposts have been replaced by soulless glass boxes, each a product of Spanish-owned Cemusa. Precisely the same company that can’t spell Delancey or refers to the Bowery as a street.

Lights Out for West 4th Newsstand 2

Unfortunately, there is yet another casualty to report. The iconic 24-hour newsstand situated atop the West 4th Street subway station is officially a relic of the past. All that remains is an empty green shell and a busted third-party ATM. More cringeworthy street furniture is likely on the way.

West 4th Newsstand as We Knew It

Related Reading:
Cemusa Busted (Again) [Bowery Boogie]
The End of the Classic Newsstand [Forgotten NY]

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Street: West 3rd, West 4th
Tags: Cemusa, Newsstand, subway


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  • NYC taxi photo
    a phew, i was afraid the news stands were disappearing!


    I'm all for the culture to stay the same, but when it comes to renovating a news stand, we may be better off with new ones, especially if they get covered in products anyway.
  • L'Emmerdeur
    You folks noticed that some of the new CeMedusa (Chemusa? Crapusa? whatevs) newsstands don't sell cigarettes? I hve a hunch the city gives them the incentive to share in the ad revenue if they don't carry cancer sticks.


    Also, Irony of Ironies: Cemusa, a Spanish company, technically a New York real estate developer, hailing from the country with possibly the mot inflated real estate bubble on the planet. Idiots.
  • Ken Mac
    hey Anon, you're right, we need more "hip and trendy" so Manhattan can look just like anywhere USA!
  • Ken Mac
    BB, I agree that it looks fantastic. My bet is that another vendor will take the spot. It's too new I think to replace with a CEMUSA...but I could be wrong...
  • Bowery Boogie
    Ken, you do have a point. But this particular newsstand totally added to the personality of the subway stop.


    Cemusa Crap-Box...I like it Jeremiah!
  • Jeremiah Moss
    yikes! this is bad news. i wonder if maybe the newsstand owner is just changing. hard to believe the city would exchange this little showpiece for a leaky, crap-box cemusa. right?
  • Anonymous
    Yeah EV....I'm sure the vendor was much happier in the old run down black shack he was working out of without electricity, water or heat as the new ones have all the above...try the vendor was just upgraded free of charge from a box into a mansion which happens to update the city and make it look more hip and trendy.
  • Ken Mac
    oddly enough, this newsstand is only a few years old. Guess it was the city's attempt to build a classic looking structure before CEMUSA came along. I hope it stays closed, the guy who ran it was really rude, while the two newsstands that practically border this one are run by extremely pleasant guys. Plus, when you're trying to make the train, this stand is totally in the way, along with the hip-hoppers and B Boys from the court slow-mowing their way in...
  • Bowery Boogie
    I would be too, if stuck in a glass case resembling a fish tank...
  • EV Grieve
    There's a newish Cemusa box near my office...the proprietor looks really glum sitting in there now.
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