Commuters at the West Fourth Street station encountered a change of pace this Saturday. Al Mullen, the founder of Public Transport Magazine, transformed a vacant subway newspaper kiosk into an interactive art space. Instead of traditional goods, the booth offers free zines, a train-themed photo booth, and novelty keychains. This project operates through the MTA Vacant Unit Activation Program, a city initiative designed to repurpose unused retail spaces within the transit system.
Mullen plans to staff the location on weekends for the next year. He aims to expand the current selection of zines and station guides, eventually covering all 472 subway stations. Notable contributors to the current collection include writer Jia Tolentino and comedian David Cross. The booth serves as a break from the standard transit experience, encouraging riders to pause during their daily travel.
Preparing the site proved difficult due to platform heat and heavy debris buildup in the long-neglected space. Despite the physical labor, Mullen views the installation as a way to introduce spontaneous humor to the daily commute. He plans to host live events at the kiosk, including puppet shows and comedy performances, to maintain an active presence on the platform.
The MTA launched this activation program in 2023 to address long-term vacancies in subway retail units. Due to constraints in size and location, these spots often fail to attract traditional commercial tenants. The transit agency now seeks creative projects to improve the visual appeal of station environments. Additional vacant kiosks remain available at several other stations across the city, including locations at 23rd Street and Port Authority.