Tamer Hassan is thinking about leaving the street food business. He runs four carts near Times Square, offering smoothies, hot dogs, and chicken and rice. After a decade in this trade, at 45, he’s feeling the wear and tear. He hopes to either sell his business or get his 18-year-old son, who studies engineering, to take over.
“Two years ago, we could sell hot dogs for $3 and make 80 cents per sale. Now, even at $5, the profit is the same,” he shared. His daily earnings of $3,000 only translate to around $200 after covering costs like food supplies, staff wages, and permits. It’s hard to keep up with rising prices.
New York City’s Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, promised to make the city more affordable. He suggested an initiative called “Make Halal $8 Again” to help bring down the costs of popular street food, like meat and falafel platters that now hover around $10.
The challenges vendors like Tamer face are many. Overhead costs are increasing dramatically, and fewer tourists and office workers are around to buy food. A recent survey found nearly 3% decline in tourism, adding to vendor struggles. New congestion pricing, which incurs a $9 toll for entering central Manhattan, further complicates the situation, particularly for vendors based in outer boroughs.
Abdelhafeez Aly, another vendor, wakes up early to set up his cart. He has been selling food in the Financial District since 1991. “Everything is getting more expensive—cheese, meat, you name it,” he explained. On a good day, he earns about $10 an hour after expenses.
Experts note that food costs in U.S. cities have risen by approximately 22% over the past five years. The global situation, like the ongoing conflict in Ukraine impacting gas prices, is another layer of pressure. Many vendors mentioned that rising expenses often outweigh their profits, with the cost of daily supplies spiking unpredictably.
Mamdani’s administration is trying to help, launching a “Division of Street Vendor Assistance.” This includes efforts to ease parking restrictions for vendors, which could help their bottom lines. But many vendors remain skeptical about whether these changes can truly improve their situation.
With a slowly recovering economy post-pandemic, vendors are still feeling the pinch. Ahmed Hassan, another vendor, struggles with low foot traffic in front of the Museum of Natural History. He mentioned, “Summer usually brings more people, but it’s still tough.”
Mohamad Mohamad, who has invested heavily to start his vendor business, believes the city’s cost of living is a big hurdle. While he sometimes makes $200 on a good day, it’s rarely enough to break even. As he puts it, “When business is good, it’s just enough to cover my overhead.”
The city’s permit system adds frustration. With a cap on licenses established in 1979, there are only 6,880 permits available for around 20,000 vendors. This means many pay high fees to rent permits, sometimes reaching into the tens of thousands. A recent bill aims to lift this cap and provide thousands of new licenses by 2031, potentially easing some of this burden.
Times Square’s street vendors watch changes from City Hall closely. For now, Tamer believes $12 is a fair price for meals, but he dreams of a day when he won’t have to work the streets anymore. As he handed me a fresh smoothie, he smiled and said, “It’s hot out here. You should try this.” He waved off my attempt to pay, showing the warmth that often connects vendors to their regular customers.
The street vendor scene in New York City reflects a broader struggle against rising living costs and changing consumer habits. As city officials take steps to address these challenges, how effective these measures will be remains to be seen.
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