New York's best stocked vending machines. Photo / Supplied
New York's best stocked vending machines. Photo / Supplied
Need an engagement ring in a hurry? The Rockefeller Centre's latest addition might be the place for you.
"The Vend" is the newest addition to New York City's top tourist stop, dispensing everything from chicken soup to Brooks Brothers' shirts and a $1300 diamond engagement ring.
Selling a variety of knick-knacks to passers-by in a fraction of a Manhattan minute, the block of six vending machines have become a novel attraction in their own right.
Belts, kale chips, wallets, and a shaving kit...you can find them all here at this NYC upscale vending machine, simply called “The Vend,” at Rockefeller Center. pic.twitter.com/I7qBSWyLqW
The Vend which was designed and named by the landlord Tishman Speyer has already attracted hordes of curious - and bamboozled – tourists in the underground shopping concourse.
Some are there to buy souvenirs, others just to press their noses to the glass and stare at the curios.
The diamond ring is still for sale say the owners but they are hopeful the right occasion might arise. There are plenty of romantic spots through the Manhattan complex for couples to 'pop the question', the managing director EB Kelly told the New York Post.
New York's best stocked vending machines. Photo / Supplied
Don't worry you won't need a wheelbarrow full of change to buy it. The Vend's six machines take card payment.
The idea behind this automated convenience store was to sell to Tishman's 20,000 tenants outside the stores' operating hours of 7am to 10pm.
"We have people who might need something first thing in the morning or later at night when other stores are closed," she told the Post.
However, it's hard to imagine when one might "need" a $25 Ruth Bader Ginsburg action figure and a $22 mini-piñata donkey. The machines are stuffed with impulse purchases seemingly designed to attract curiosity.
Among the groceries available to peckish visitors are jars of kimchi, seared tuna and sandwiches from the Proper Food company.
On the vend
Art-o-mat; Las Vegas The 'art' dispenser in Las Vegas' Cosmopolitan Hotel and Casino has to be a one of a kind. The retrofitted cigarette dispenser now gives out original works of art, including paintings and sculptures. $5 a pop.
Crepes to go; Kobayashi, Japan Japan is the land of the vending machine. However, this automatic serving hot crepes filled with chocolate and a choice of other fillings has to be one of the most tempting.
Oysters; Ars en Ré, France For 7 euros you can help yourself to a plate of shellfish at any hour. The Oyster farming region offers a dozen fresh shellfish in coin operated lockers.
Stories on demand; Grenoble, France The Distributeur d'Histoires Courtes ("Short-story dispenser") sounds too fantastic to be true. However in a variety of train stations across France (and one in San Francisco) commuters can buy a printed receipt of stories of between one and five minutes to read.
Automated egg layer; Aptos, California At the press of a button, the automated egg machine will "lay" a crate of 18 fresh eggs in exchange for 4 dollar bills.
