MAGAZINE KIOSKS
Our first magazine kiosk is in place! It replaces 10 assorted plastic boxes outside the Cookie Crock.
We wanted a win for everyone – the magazine distributors, the adjacent businesses and consumers – to provide an aesthetically pleasing alternative that was clean, consistent and that fit the Cambria ambiance.
Our hard work over five years has paid off – the new kiosk received an enthusiastic reception and is working as planned.
The custom designed new unit is made of durable, exterior-grade plywood with a baked-on finish, self-closing tempered glass doors and a copper roof.
Based on a design by Beautify Cambria’s Claudia Harmon Worthen, the kiosk was built by local craftsmen. Scenic Coast Cabinets engineered the cabinet, PolyPro installed the glass and Lafferty Heating created the copper roof.
Our thanks to the Cambria Community Council for a generous donation that made this project possible.
This project began when we noticed that Cambria had a lot of newspaper/magazine vending machines.
Over 80 in fact — that’s more than one for every 100 people in town.
A good number of them were grimy, dented , damaged, neglected and otherwise not beautifying our town.
We contacted SLO County Public Works to see if anything could be done about the proliferation and were informed that all vending machines in the right of way must have an encroachment permit. Yet not a single one of the vending machines on our streets has a permit.
Our research revealed that most real estate agents no longer use printed magazines, having largely migrated to online advertising. However, conscious of the owners’ attachment to their kiosks, we worked with real estate agents, directory publishers and other users to develop an attractive and functional kiosk design.
While those negotiations were underway, we got started by removing the abandoned kiosks. Then began a year of designing and building the new kiosk. Our goal was to build a kiosk that reflected Cambria’s artistic heritage and worked aesthetically with our town’s rather quirky ambiance, while also improving functionality.
The response from Cambrians (and publishers) has been even more positive than we hoped for, and we are re-energized to continue converting existing kiosks around Cambria.
But when the free magazines and newspapers are eventually replaced by online versions, the kiosk is ready and fitted with moveable shelves to turn the cabinet into a free lending library.