Selling everything from oysters and trinkets to fresh-cut flowers and fruit with Tajín (if you know, you know), street vendors have always found a way to get by. Rain or shine, they set up shop on busy street corners, parks, and anywhere with heavy foot traffic. Long before food trucks and pop-up markets became trendy, these vendors were the OG hustlers.
From makeshift carts selling homemade remedies to ice cream stands and balloon sellers, here are vintage snapshots that capture the hustle (and soul) of street vending from the 1800s to the present.
1. Street Vendors Selling Umbrellas and Other Trinkets in New York City, 1979
2. An Ice Cream Vendor Sells ‘Pure Vanilla Ices’ to Schoolboys in London, January 1921
3. ‘Housewife Buying Flower Pots From a Street Vendor in Brooklyn, New York, 1949’
4. A Street Vendor Sells Brooms and Baskets From an Overloaded Cart in Japan, 1930s
5. ‘Street Vendors Selling Household Remedies in Port Gibson, Mississippi, 1940’
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6. A Vendor Looks Unimpressed While Selling Trinkets in the Arbat District of Moscow, 1991
7. A Vendor Sells Fresh ‘Cat’s Meat’ in London, 1933
8. Street Vendor Sells Hot Baked Potatoes in San Francisco, 1942
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9. A Street Artist Displays His Work for Sale in New Orleans, 1960s
10. Selling Balloon Animals at the Ipanema Neighborhood of Brazil, 1960s
11. A Market Stall Selling Soaps and Toiletries in Moscow, Russia, 1960s
12. Snoozin’ on the Job: A Vendor Sells Religious Mounts and Other Trinkets on a Makeshift Crate Table in Chicago, 1950s
13. Street Vendors Sell Oysters From a Pushcart in New York City, 1900s
14. A Vendor Selling Fresh Fruit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
15. ‘A Street Vendor Sells Cough Lozenges in London, 1877’
16. ‘Street Vendor Selling Pope John Paul II Memorabilia, 1979’
17. Colorized Image of a Vendor Selling Ice on Mulberry Street in New York City, 1943
18. Street Vendor Selling Jewelry on Canal Street in New York City, 1977
19. Two Women Sell Fresh Flowers at Piccadilly Circus in London, 1900s
20. John Lennon and Yoko Ono Buying Hot Dogs From a Street Vendor in New York City, Circa 1972
More snapshots of street life:
- 15 Vintage Photos of Main Streets Across America — These photos illustrate just how much central thoroughfares have changed since the days of saloons and dusty roads.
- 20 Throwback Photos That Capture New York City in the ’60s — These vintage photos depict the Big Apple during the swinging Sixties and all of its bustling glory.
- 22 Bold and Quirky Billboards From Another Era — Take a look at these vintage billboards that showcase the significant changes in advertising over the years.
