Specialty coffee and 'souvenirs' overwhelm the press at newsstands: 'I sell what people buy'

In the heart of Barcelona’s Aribau street, Josep opens his kiosk each morning at seven, just as he has done for thirty years. The once-thriving spot, which used to sell newspapers in bulk, now barely moves a dozen daily, down from hundreds in the late 1990s. He recalls how the neighborhood has changed over time, watching four mayors come and go, two economic crises unfold, and half a dozen newspaper titles disappear from his shelves. Today, survival, not profit, is the goal. “Before this was a real business,” he says. “Now it's just about staying afloat.” Around him, the landscape of kiosks in Barcelona has shifted dramatically. According to municipal data, the city now hosts 288 kiosks, down from 339 since 2018. Of these, 254 have been assigned to individual owners, nine have gone to organizations supporting people with disabilities, and the rest remain empty, abandoned by potential new operators. The decline reflects broader changes in consumer habits and the evolving role of kiosks in urban life. Newspapers and magazines, once the mainstay of kiosk sales, now account for just 30% of revenue. Ahmed, who runs a kiosk near Plaça Urquinaona, has adapted to this shift. His shop now focuses heavily on selling souvenirs, magnets, t-shirts, and postcards, to tourists passing through. “I sell what people actually buy here,” he explains. “A memory of Barcelona before they catch the metro.” He estimates that eight out of ten customers walk away with a souvenir. “With this, I can live,” he adds. “And that’s already a lot.” In another part of the city, the Eixample district, Fran and his partner Edward run a kiosk that has taken a different route toward adaptation. They bought the space through a transfer and now pay around €140 per month in rent. Their business model combines coffee and newspapers, offering specialty coffee alongside a curated selection of magazines. “We didn’t want to be either a café with magazines or a kiosk serving coffee,” Fran says. “We wanted both things together. Coffee tastes better when shared, and so does the kiosk.” Their approach contrasts with other kiosks that have embraced a more commercialized model. Fran emphasizes their commitment to being a neighborhood hub, connected to local residents and community groups. This philosophy aligns with the rise of specialty coffee in kiosks, a trend pioneered by the Barcelona-based chain Good News, founded in 2020 by five Catalans. Good News has transformed the traditional image of kiosks, moving away from cluttered displays to minimalist designs featuring cream tones and wood. Alongside healthy snacks and juices, their kiosks offer a carefully selected range of magazines rather than daily newspapers. Marketing efforts include discounts for cyclists and scooter riders to promote sustainable mobility, and free drinks for customers who share four positive experiences within a set timeframe. In less than six years, the company has opened ten locations in Barcelona, expanded to seven in Madrid, and established sixteen in Paris and two in Amsterdam. The transformation of kiosks into hybrid spaces has not gone unnoticed by local authorities. Over a year ago, the City Council proposed reducing the minimum income requirement from 80% to 51% derived from newspaper sales, allowing all kiosks to sell coffee and packaged food. However, the measure has yet to be formally approved. For now, the kiosk industry continues to navigate the balance between tradition and innovation, adapting to changing consumer demands while seeking regulatory support to sustain its presence in the urban fabric.