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If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a slice of subway history—whether it’s a battered station sign, a vintage token or even a grabhold from a retired R32—your chance is almost here. New York City Transit’s Memorabilia and Collectibles Pop-Up Shop is back for two days only, on October 16 and 17, and it’s a rare opportunity for ordinary New Yorkers to walk away with authentic artifacts from the system itself.
The sale has quietly grown into a cult event since 2021, drawing collectors, design geeks and curious riders alike. This year’s lineup will include everything from subway strip maps and builder plates to orange seats, emergency call boxes and refuse canisters. While numerous replicas circulate online, these are the real deal, having once served across the five boroughs. As the MTA puts it, “we are very pleased to present a sales program designed especially for buyers interested in acquiring a little bit of NYC Transit’s history.”
The timing is apt. With the MetroCard set to vanish by the end of the year, tokens and cards from earlier eras feel like relics of a city already gone. Past pop-ups have featured pieces of the legendary “Redbirds” and “Brightliners,” cars that carried New Yorkers for decades before being retired to serve as artificial reefs in coastal waters. The exact inventory is always unpredictable, but the surprise factor is part of the draw—last winter, the MTA teased M Line strip maps, which disappeared almost instantly.
Here’s how it works: The shop will run outdoors at 23 Avenue X in Brooklyn, a short walk from the Bay 50 St station. Hours are 9am to 2pm both Thursday and Friday, with a 45-minute cap per visitor to keep crowds moving. It’s walk-in only this year, so no reservations—and you’ll need to bring a completed waiver to enter. Payment is strictly Visa or Mastercard, no cash or Amex, and all items are pick-up only.
Even if you don’t walk away with a subway seat for your living room, there’s something charming about browsing the remnants of the city’s transit past. And who knows? That Avenue U sign or stanchion pole might be the exact piece of New York grit your apartment makeover needs.