Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
City Finally Permits Astor Place Newsstand To Reopen
By
Lauren Evans
Published Jan 13, 2014
Modified Jan 13, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Lauren Evans
Published Jan 13, 2014
Modified Jan 13, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
There is some justice in this world: After more than a month of fighting the city for padlocking his Astor Place newsstand, Jerry Delakas has finally secured a victory. A victory that will set him back $9,000, but a victory nonetheless.
Delakas, who ran the newsstand for 26 years before it was abruptly shuttered by officials in December, could be back in business as early as Wednesday, DNAinfo reports, since the Department of Consumer Affairs breezily agreed on Friday to issue him a license.
Attempts by the city to oust Delakas had persisted for years, since he wasn't the kiosk's official license holder. (The proper license holder, Katherine Ashley, did state in her will that it was her "wish that [Delakas] continue in his capacity of day-to-day operator of that newsstand after my demise and, if possible, to succeed me as franchisee," but what's an old lady's dying wish when there is Protocol To Follow?) The city, by the way, also apparently blocked numerous attempts to have the license transferred, but let this be a lesson to us all: It turns out you can fight city hall, but it'll require you to build a tiny, replica newsstand and bring it directly to the feet of a newly-elected, still-impressionable mayor.
The 64-year-old will first be required to pay the city $1,000 for a new license, as well as the first $1,000 of the $9,000 fine. He'll have to fork over the rest over the course of three-month installments.
Tagged
astor place
department of consumer affairs
Jerry Delakas
newsstand
Lauren Evans
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Suicides decline in NYC, but inequities persist across groups
New data shows suicide taking an outsize toll among Latino New Yorkers, even as overall deaths fell.
By
Jill Webb
Published Oct 25, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET
Cuts to rural healthcare become key issue for upstate votes in race for NY governor
The fight over a consolidation plan for a hospital in Hudson captures a trend throughout the state.
By
Samuel King
News
Cuts to rural healthcare become key issue for upstate votes in race for NY governor
The fight over a consolidation plan for a hospital in Hudson captures a trend throughout the state.
By
Samuel King
NY Archdiocese will soon settle $800M clergy sexual abuse claims
By
Arya Sundaram
Chinatown residents file lawsuit against after-hours construction on new 'mega jail'
By
Arya Sundaram
Peepapalooza: NYC is heading to the Hudson Valley to watch the leaves
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
Sean Carlson
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .