Vendor Story: James Metzgar

The main difference is I don’t break for lunch. I have breakfast and lunch before I leave. I can’t go into the basement of St. Peter’s Church and bring a brown bag lunch. They’re only open with reservations for mass. There’s not a good place to eat outside in the cold. Although today [March 19] was St. Joseph’s Day, so I treated myself to Potbelly’s.

I sell at LaSalle and Madison: one of the four corners. Sometimes there might be a panhandler on more than one corner. I never want to be next to a panhandler. In unusual circumstances, on a rainy day, I want to be under shelter.

I wouldn’t say I have taken a financial loss, although there were a few months we were not permitted to be out [selling the magazine]. I also worked at the polls for the March primary. And I have gotten my second stimulus check. I am awaiting my third.

I didn’t earn the money I could have. But when I did go back, the best days and the biggest tips have happened. One time I grossed $182. Before, the biggest tip I ever got was $40. That was beaten by a $60 tip and a $100 tip. Maybe people can afford to be philanthropic. I have definitely been the beneficiary. Even yesterday, a man didn’t want to take the magazine but gave me a $10 bill.

I have an annuity and Social Security. I was not getting the money from selling StreetWise, so I did have to learn to live on somewhat less. I was actually cutting down on how much I ate during the pandemic. But I didn’t lose any weight. I didn’t go out for food stamps or to a food pantry because I didn’t need to. I considered myself very lucky. I didn’t need to be the beneficiary of any social welfare program.

Except for essential services, I didn’t go out. I lost weight when I did come out and was more active, but not enough to be unhealthy.