Last magazine shop on NYC's Upper East Side to close as readers buy up final X-rated fare
The Upper East Side's last print magazine shop — and hotspot to get X-rated mags — will close its doors for good as the building's landlords aim to convert the building to luxury condos, its owner said.
International News and Magazines Inc will be forced out of the East 86th Street storefront at the end of June, said owner Zofar Ahmed — who claims city policy is blocking him from finding a new shop.
Advertisement
7 Zofar Ahmed is 'in limbo' because city law is preventing him from transferring his tobacco licenses to a new storefront before he is evicted this month.
Katherine Donlevy/NY Post
'I feel like I'm in grief. I feel like I've been left alone,' Ahmed, who has run the shop for 28 years, told The Post.
Ahmed and his convenience store have been a beloved staple of the neighborhood since he first began hawking cigarettes, candy, magazines and more in 1997, but the cracks started to form in 2020 — and it had nothing to do with the pandemic, he said.
Advertisement
His longtime landlords sold the building, and the new owners are planning to raze the building and replace it with luxury apartments, he said.
Ahmed, 68, claims his new landlords terminated his lease on a technicality more than two years early this spring. They claimed the insurance the store held for years was insufficient according to their contract, despite his previous landlords being content with his choice, according to Ahmed.
7 Ahmed has been operating the Upper East Side store for 28 years.
Katherine Donlevy/NY Post
The Pakistani immigrant began scouring the Upper East Side for new storefronts, several of which were interested in taking him on as a tenant — until he learned that he would not be permitted to move his tobacco license to a new address.
Advertisement
City law prohibits such licenses from being transferable between locations and places a cap on how many permits can operate within council districts at a time.
Business owners like Ahmed have the opportunity to apply for the license lottery just twice a year — in April and October.
7 It is the last magazine shop in the Upper East Side — and one of the last places in the city to sell X-rated mags.
Katherine Donlevy/NY Post
In the Upper East Side's District 5, there are already 12 more licenses operating than is technically allowed, and no openings for a new business to grab one — squashing Ahmed's hopes of starting fresh.
Advertisement
Because cigarettes, vapes and other tobacco products are the bulk of Ahmed's profit, there's no point in trying to find a new home for his longtime business while he waits for a new license.
'I'm in limbo. It's not only my problem if some other people, the workers depend on this,' Ahmed noted while holding back tears.
'These are my family, and the local community, they love me a lot. They have tears in their eyes and they hug me and say they can't believe it … This law was not well thought.'
7 Ahmed doesn't make a profit on the magazines, but continues to sell them because his customers love them.
Katherine Donlevy/NY Post
7 More than 12,000 customers signed petitions for the city to allow Ahmed to continue his business from a new storefront in the community.
Katherine Donlevy/NY Post
Neighbors rallied around Ahmed, and sent a physical petition with 12,000 signatures to the city's Department of Consumer Affairs begging them to help the store owner survive the transition.
A second online petition garnered nearly 300 additional signatures.
The district's City Council member Julie Menin is actively pushing a bill that would amend the 'overly draconian' law so that electronic cigarette and tobacco licenses, which are separate, could be transferred within a community.
Advertisement
'I have requested my legislation that reforms bureaucratic red tape for many licenses be brought to a vote by the City Council as soon as possible,' Menin said in a statement.
7 'I feel like I'm in grief. I feel like I've been left alone,' Ahmed told The Post last week.
Katherine Donlevy/NY Post
The store continues to be flooded with longtime customers, many of whom grab stacks of magazines from the shelves — Ahmed's shop is the last in the neighborhood to sell a sweeping array of fashion, nature, architecture, pop culture and even X-rated magazines.
'Old people' still buy the nudie mags, one of the workers told The Post, saying the store ran out of copies just a few days earlier.
Advertisement
Ahmed sells the magazines at cost and makes just a few pennies in profit, making it nearly pointless to continue to peddle them — but he continues to do what makes his customers happy.
'Many times I thought I should renovate the place, but then I would have to close, and if I close then the 70-year-old lady who comes from four blocks to get the paper — she would get disturbed,' Ahmed said. 'Sometimes in very harsh weather, we deliver papers to their homes free of cost.
'During COVID, I worked seven days and I told my customers I would be open for them in that difficult time when everyone was in a state of shock,' Ahmed said. 'In the scary time, I was here for my people and they are with me right now. But the government is not with us, unfortunately.'
Advertisement
Several customers reiterated the same idea when approached by The Post as they bought magazines, lotto tickets and more.
'It is a loss for the community. I'm disappointed,' said Edie, who buys 'every' kind of magazine Ahmed has to offer.
'I don't know what I'll do, I'm getting ready to get a [digital] subscription.'
7 'From the very first day, they decided not to have this small business over here,' Ahmed said of his landlords.
Katherine Donlevy/NY Post
Advertisement
Tom Petito, who has been patronizing the shop since it first opened, said the shuttering was unfair to Ahmed and his staff: 'They're good people. He's a nice guy, he works hard for a living.'
Ingrid, who has lived in the Upper East Side since 1986, said the loss is reflective of the changing neighborhood.
'I don't think that it's very fair to just say, 'Well, get lost,'' she said as she picked up a few lottery tickets.
'It's been that way here in New York for a while, unfortunately. It used to be a friendlier place to be, but money is always the object. They want more and more money, it's a shame.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
BetMGM announces mass changes to app as arms race continues in online sports betting
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. It's not just a battle of bets, it's a technological war. Sports betting operators are constantly looking at ways to be the fastest, most progressive, and easiest-to-use apps in a highly competitive market. BetMGM went in a different direction. The Post learned Tuesday that the company was overhauling new parts of its app to make it faster and easier to scroll ahead of the upcoming football season. 'This is the fastest, most user-friendly and best product we have ever offered,' BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt said. 'Every detail was designed with players in mind. By blending years of customer feedback with the ingenuity of our product development team, we've built a premium sports betting app with a level of detail and insight that sets BetMGM apart.' In a world dominated by DraftKings and FanDuel, BetMGM is hanging onto the third slot in the competitive online sports betting market. A screenshot of the new app's rewards program. BetMGM This latest update finally brings live same-game parlay bets into the fold for BetMGM. A market that DraftKings and FanDuel have dominated, BetMGM now has a chance to compete in the space while games are actively happening. Their app hasn't always been up to the same speeds as the other two competitors, although this latest update, which includes a new wheel scrolling feature for their 'correct score' market, should help fix that. The wheel scrolling feature may be expanded to other aspects of their app, although that will not be unveiled in this latest update. BetMGM Sportsbook looks to make some noise in the 2025 football season. The Washington Post via Getty Im Fanatics Sportsbook, which has been disrupting a bit of the competition in recent years, has made a gangbuster in terms of rewards with its FanCash. MGM is now showing users how many rewards points they are getting with each bet that is placed. Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps They have a massive amount of potential rewards that players can enjoy, including their ecosystem of hotels throughout the country, including Las Vegas and Atlantic City. The betting market is currently in flux, with prediction markets like Kalshi changing the way sports betting operators typically view sports betting. This change from BetMGM is sure to be one of many as these apps look to curry favor with the public who want to snag a buck or two. Why Trust New York Post Betting Erich Richter is a brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt but he has a black belt in MMA betting. During the football season he's showcased massive profits at The Post in the player prop market the last two seasons. While constantly betting long shots, his return on investment is 30.15 percent since 2022.
New York Post
19 hours ago
- New York Post
Suffolk lawmakers push new crackdown on ‘fire chasers' accused of preying on homeowners in crisis
Suffolk lawmakers are hoping to rein in so-called 'fire chasers' — private board-up crews accused of preying on traumatized families by pushing them into costly contracts before the smoke even clears. These businesses, often arriving to the scene of a devastating fire as fast as first responders, with clipboards in hand, pressure homeowners into signing contracts to board up the burnt-out homes on the spot, according to lawmakers and fire officials. But what's sold as a 'necessary' emergency service can leave homeowners, at arguably their most vulnerable moments, unknowingly staring down bills that often run into the thousands. 3 Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine vowed to sign a bill that would crack down on 'fire chasers.' Dennis A. Clark 'Homeowners are absolutely pressured into having their homes boarded up because these guys present it as a 'must,'' one local firefighter, who requested anonymity, told The Post — describing such companies as 'vultures.' 'They act like they're doing a service to the homeowner who just lost everything.' A new bill, sponsored by county Legislator Dominick Thorne, a Patchogue Republican and former first responder, would require board-up companies to provide written disclosure to homeowners that they are not a government-run service and there is no obligation to hire them. It would also create a 1,000-foot buffer zone around fire vehicles to keep crews from swarming active scenes, expand enforcement powers to county attorneys, prosecutors, fire marshals and code officers — and raise penalties from $1,000 to as much as $5,000, with repeat offenders facing up to a year in jail. 'As a first responder I know firsthand how important it is for a reputable and licensed company to handle the work necessary after a fire has destroyed a home or a business,' Thorne said. 3 Gerard Turza Jr., chairman of the Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services Commission, has claimed there has been a spike in 'fire chasers' harassing homeowners. East Hampton Village If the bill, which has garnered heavy bipartisan support, is passed by the Legislature, Republican Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine signaled he would not hesitate to sign it into law. 'Any business in Suffolk County must adhere to the rules and regulations, and we will do all we can to protect consumers from predatory business practices,' Romaine said. The push for stricter safeguards comes a decade after Suffolk first tried to regulate the industry with a 2015 law that required board-up businesses to register with the county. But firefighters and lawmakers told The Post the rules lacked teeth and failed to stop companies from swarming fire scenes. Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Complaints about the predatory practice have spiked in recent months, with more homeowners reporting aggressive behavior and misleading tactics, according to a letter in support of the new bill from Gerard Turza Jr., chairman of the Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services Commission. Fire Rescue and Emergency Services logged more than 5,000 possible structure fire calls in 2024, according to an April report presented to the Legislature — each one a potential opportunity for fire chasers to pressure victims into contracts costing between $4,000 and $8,000. Firefighters explained that the 'fire chasers' sell the unsuspecting families on being liable if anyone were to break into the burnt-up home, get injured and decide to sue. 3 Mike Barry, president of the Fire Chiefs' Council of Suffolk County, said 'fire chasers' must not long be allowed to take advantage of fire victims in Suffolk County. Suffolk County Legislature Firefighters stressed there are better ways to secure the property — including through insurance once the dust settles. Aside from the predatory practices, county and fire officials have also cited safety concerns with what they described as an increasingly aggressive industry. At larger fires, it's not unusual for numerous companies to swoop in. The scramble for contracts has even turned violent, with crews erupting into fights while firefighters are still battling the blaze, according to first responders. Mike Barry, president of the Fire Chiefs' Council of Suffolk County, called it 'critical'– at an Aug. 5 public hearing on the legislation — that these companies are no longer allowed to 'take advantage of people seeing their worst day.' Lawmakers are now expected to send the bill back to committee this month, with a full vote before the Legislature possible as early as September.
New York Post
19 hours ago
- New York Post
Titanic wreck to be visited by another billionaire — two years after Oceangate disaster killed 5
The 1912 shipwreck of the Titanic has remained off limits for two years since the reckless Oceangate tragedy which killed five people instantly when their sub-par submersible imploded as it descended into the deep. However, the Titanic — 12,500 feet below the surface of the North Atlantic Ocean — remains a huge draw for thrill-seeking billionaires and marine explorers alike. In particular, those in the submersible industry are eager to send another manned craft to the wreck to try and restore public confidence in such missions. Advertisement 'Besides it being a wreck of historical significance, the fact that it lies at such great depth makes it fascinating to visit,' Patrick Lahey, CEO of Triton Submarines, who is in the midst of building a new commercially available submersible that could handle such a journey, told The Post. 12 The deck bulkhead of the wrecked Titanic that continues to intrigue. via REUTERS 12 The mighy RMS Titanic has long captured the imagination of undersea explorers. The Print Collector via Getty Im Advertisement 12 This is a rendering of the two-seat Triton Explorer. It is in the process of being built in conjunction with tech entrepreneur Larry Connor. Triton boss Patrick Lahey promises that the the acrylic bubble creates the impression of there being 'nothing between you and the ocean environment that you're in.' The Connor Group 12 Patrick Lahey, who heads up Triton Submarines, an elite maker of submersibles, is hoping to make people realize that underwater exploration, when done correctly, is completely safe. CRYSTAL VANDER WEIT/TCPALM / USA TODAY NETWORK 'Titanic is a wreck that's covered in marine life and soft coral. People want to go there for the same reason that they want to climb Mount Everest.' Making the trip costs a huge amount of money, so only the most rarefied can afford to do it. A handful of billionaires are known to have owned their own submersibles, including the late Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft; Ray Dalio, a Wall Street magnate and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. Advertisement The current chatter among elite ocean explorers is of an imminent new expedition, but the details are hush hush. 12 The doomed OceanGate submersible that held five passengers. They all perished on an ill-fated trip to to the Titanic wreckage site. Submersible insiders describe the incident as something that could have been avoided. Becky Kagan Schott / OceanGate Expeditions 12 After the tragic implosion, salvaged pieces of the OceanGate vessel were lifted out of the ocean. Reuters 12 The wrecked Titanic is what drew the OceanGate tourists to drop six figures on a dive that proved to be deadly. via REUTERS Advertisement 'I heard that somebody is going down to the Titanic in a couple weeks,' a knowledgeable source told The Post. 'What I can tell you is that it's a billionaire. Going down there will cost $10 million. You would recognize his name.' The source said they didn't want to spoil the mystery billionaire's surprise, adding: 'He'll want to make an announcement that he is the first person to go to the Titanic since the tragedy.' Oceangate, the private company who launched the ill-fated Titan vessel, boasted it was the first to take ordinary tourists to see the Titanic, charging $250,000 per person. 12 Ray Dalio, a Wall Street billionaire and advocate of undersea exploration, in the background. In the foreground: a sphere-shaped submersible. Bianca Otero/ZUMA / However, CEO and captain Stockton Rush, who died in the disaster, has been accused of cutting corners. A US Coast Guard report released earlier this month said Titan imploded because its pressure hull where passengers sit was mostly made from fiberglass, rather than the more traditionally used titanium. Rush also forewent safety tests and didn't adequately repair and maintain the vessel, particularly after one incident in July 2022 when it got stuck in the Titanic wreckage and suffered 'irreversible' hull damage. Triton's planned $20 million sub will be held to a much higher standard. Lahey has estimated it will be finished by next year. Advertisement 12 Video game developers Gabe Newell owns one of the amazing submersibles that can go down to Titanic depths. Future Publishing via Getty Images 'I'm very excited to be building this and to change the narrative,' he said. Other manned submersibles can reach the depths of the Titanic, but are mostly operated by nation's navies or marine research companies. One such vessel is the Nautile, a French Deep Submergence Vehicle (DSV) capable of carrying up to three people to depths of 20,000 feet. That submersible was deployed in the desperate search for the Titan after it disappeared. Advertisement Meanwhile, DSV Alvin is an American-built submersible that previously dived to the Titanic for research, taking part in a 1986 expedition which produced some of the earliest and most iconic images of the famous wreck, first discovered a year earlier. The vessel carries two scientists and a pilot, and is currently owned by the United States Navy. 12 Victor Vescovo, a retired US Navy commander and undersea enthusiast, poses alongside the Limiting Factor submersible (now owned by Gabe Newell). Rick Cruz/PDN 12 Vescovo described his journey to the Titanic as 'the most dangerous dive I ever did.' AP Russia's navy has at least two DSVs known as Consuls, both able to dive to 20,000 feet with two passengers, while the Chinese-built and operated Striver can carry three crew members. Advertisement That vessel has dived to the deepest point on earth — the roughly 35,000-foot depth of Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, located in the Pacific near the coast of Japan. That point has also been reached by the US built DSV Limiting Factor, built by Triton at a cost of $37 million. Since it was first deployed in 2018, it has taken some 21 people to Challenger Deep. 12 Treasure hunter and submersible owner Carl Allen has advice for people lucky enough to take a submersible to the Titanic: Keep an eye out for abandoned shoes on the deck. Carl Allen/Facebook After being in the hands of a marine research organization until 2022, the sub was sold and is currently owned by Gabe Newell, a computer game mogul who most famously created Half Life. He has since renamed it Bakunawa and in 2024 it was used to make the first all-woman deep submersible dive to a depth of 26,000 ft carrying pilots Kate Wawatai and Heather Stewart. Advertisement For those less excited about marine research, the Titanic remains the wreck most want to visit. However, the trip is not for the faint of heart. 'It was the most dangerous dive I ever did – and I've been to the bottom of the ocean 15 times,' Victor Vescovo, a retired US Navy commander who originally piloted Limiting Factor, named for the spacecraft in a science fiction novel, told The Post. 'There are a lot of wires and entanglement and entrapment hazards with that wreck. You want to get close, so you can see it and so you can get good film [footage]. But the closer you get, the more dangerous it becomes.' One thing you will want to get close enough to see are the shoes. 'A good friend of mine, Jim Sinclair, was the first archaeologist to go down to the Titanic,' the treasure hunter Carl Allen told The Post. 'And one of the things he always gets emotional about is the shoes. They are on the deck. You see the pairs and you start to wonder who had been wearing them.'
