4 minSociety
Automated vending machines replace shuttered newsstands in NYC subway
New York City subway stations are getting automated vending machines that sell drinks, snacks, and protein shakes, filling the void left by shuttered newsstands and offering round-the-clock convenience.
Automated vending machines are moving into New York City subway stations, replacing the shuttered newsstands that once defined the commuter experience. The machines, installed by CC Vending II in partnership with the MTA and Coca-Cola, are now operating at three stations: 2nd Avenue on the F line, 23rd Street on the R/W, and 116th Street on the Lexington line. They sell drinks, snacks, and protein shakes, and the joint venture plans to install 60 more machines at 23 additional stops over the next five years.
The project addresses a long-standing gap in underground retail. Only about 52 of the subway’s 195 retail storefronts, including newsstands, were open in 2024, a decline accelerated by the fall of print media and the pandemic-era drop in ridership. Marc Saadia, president of CC Vending II, said he had walked past the same closed newsstands for years. “Gates pulled down, sitting on platforms where tens of thousands of people stand every day,” he said. The new machines fill entire storefronts, are wrapped in Coca-Cola branding, and operate cashlessly with tap-to-pay, allowing purchases in under 10 seconds.
The machines are designed to serve riders at all hours. More than a third of sales occur between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., according to Saadia, catering to late-night workers and commuters with no other options. The units run 24-7, unlike staffed newsstands, and are restocked every few days. An automated diagnostics system alerts operators to maintenance needs. On its first day, the machine at 23rd Street sold out of products, signaling strong demand.
Designing machines that could withstand the subway’s harsh conditions was a challenge. The units feature industrial-grade metal enclosures to protect against weather and vandalism, and they meet the MTA’s safety requirements. As of August 21, there had been no recorded vandalism. Saadia credited the MTA’s real estate team for being rigorous and invested in the project, which began with a 2019 proposal but was delayed by the pandemic before the request for proposals reopened in 2022 and 2023.
The vending machines are part of a broader effort to revitalize unused subway spaces. The MTA’s Vacant Unit Activation Project has allowed artists to transform abandoned storefronts into creative platforms. At Grand Army Plaza, a papier-mâché dinosaur named Rex sells mock issues of Dinopolitan Magazine and snacks like “Dinoritos” behind glass. At the 81 Street/Museum of Natural History station, musicians perform inside a former storefront at The Soundbooth. At West 4th Street, a kiosk was taken over by the free zine Public Transport Magazine, featuring a transit-themed mural, a photo booth, puppet shows, and giveaways.
CC Vending may expand its product range in the future, potentially offering electronics or health and beauty items similar to airport vending machines. For now, the machines provide a practical solution for riders seeking convenience items, while helping to reinvent one of the city’s most recognizable urban infrastructures.
