The days of Bob’s News and Books may be numbered. But not because fewer people are reading newspapers.
One of the country’s last newsstands, Bob’s News has been a fixture in downtown Fort Lauderdale for more than five decades. Over the years, it’s been the go-to place to pick up everything from out-of-town news to lottery tickets and adult magazines.
But the business happens to operate out of a building that’s among 12 properties being looked at by Broward Health for acquisition, to make way for the hospital district’s growth.
Erin Steinberg, who owns the business but not the building, got the news after another property owner on the block sent an email alerting him about the plan.
“I just found out last week,” Steinberg said from behind the counter. “It’s my life. It’s my business. Once D-Day comes, I don’t know what I’ll do.”
Broward Health, like any other government entity, has the legal right to seize private property for public use, provided it pays fair market value.
Broward Health does not yet have a specific plan for the properties, but acquiring the land will help make way for growth that’s coming, hospital spokesperson Jennifer Smith told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
“We’re acquiring property all over the county,” Smith said. “There’s a very aggressive strategy for land acquisition. We’re trying to set up not just for the short term, but for the long term.”
The Board of Commissioners of the North Broward Hospital District approved the plan to acquire the properties through eminent domain back in September. But the hospital’s legal representatives have not yet reached out to the property owners to begin negotiations, Smith said.
“It could be within the next year,” Smith said. “They try and privately negotiate first.”
If that doesn’t work, the hospital district can file an eminent domain lawsuit to seize the properties.
Erin Steinberg behind the counter at Bob’s News and Books on Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, March 27, 2026. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
The properties include five businesses, six residential properties and one warehouse. All in all, they add up to 2.7 acres.
The five businesses and warehouse are all on the same block right across from Broward Health Medical Center.
The six residential properties are a few blocks away on Southeast 14th Court and Southeast 14th Street.
Some people had no idea their properties were on the list until getting a call from the Sun Sentinel.
Chris Kapakos, who owns three buildings on the list that are on the same block as Bob’s News, was taken aback when a reporter contacted him Wednesday.
“Wait a minute,” he said. “I heard about Bob’s News two days ago. I didn’t know they wanted any of my properties. I just thought they wanted Bob’s.”
Kapakos owns the building that houses Big C’s Downtown Pizza at 1509 S. Andrews Ave. and the florist shop next door at 1507 S. Andrews Ave. He also owns a warehouse on the same block at 1506 SW First Ave.
“I need to do some research on what eminent domain entails,” Kapakos said. “The pizzeria is a good business, and it pays rent. They can’t just take my properties without compensating me. And they can’t lowball me either.”
The following parcels are being eyed by Broward Health for acquisition:
Parcel 108: A commercial building that’s home to a gym called Next Level Strength and Movement at 100 SW 15th St.; First Impressions Printing at 1501 SW First Ave.; New River Floral at 1503 SW First Ave.; and Lauderdale Canvas at 1511 SW First Ave.
Parcel 110: Building at 1501 S. Andrews Ave., formerly home to BOTE Fort Lauderdale, a flagship retail store specializing in premium paddleboards, kayaks, docks and water lifestyle accessories.
Parcel 111: Warehouse at 1506 SW First Ave.
Parcel 112: Building at 1507 S. Andrews Ave., home to Enchantment Florist.
Parcel 113: Building at 1509 S. Andrews Ave., home to Big C’s Downtown Pizza.
Parcel 114: Building at 1515 S. Andrews Ave., home to Bob’s News and Books.
Parcel 115: Residential quadplex at 417 SE 14th Court.
Parcel 116: Residential quadplex at 411 SE 14th Court.
Parcel 117: Pair of residential quadplex buildings at 401 SE 14th Court and 407 SE 14th Court.
Parcel 118: Duplex at 400 SE 14th St.
Parcel 119: House at 404 SE 14th St.
Parcel 120: Two-story residential building with eight apartments.
Bob’s News and Books, located on Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, displays a selection of bestsellers on March 27. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
This won’t be the first time Broward Health scoops up nearby properties.
A new eight-story medical office building and seven-story parking garage is going up at 1611 S. Andrews Ave., just south of Bob’s newsstand. The building is set to open in 2027 on land acquired from private property owners.
The hospital district managed to buy the land without having to resort to eminent domain, Smith said.
What is now a construction site was once home to the Copper Kettle Restaurant, an acupuncture/holistic medicine business and one other private business, Smith said.
“All of those original businesses that were there were privately negotiated deals with the sellers being paid above fair market value,” Smith said. “In some instances, people approach us because the properties are getting older or it’s a business that’s no longer profitable.”
Danny Steiner and his dog, Bella Donna, visit Bob’s News and Books on Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale on March 27. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Chris Campbell, owner of the Next Level gym whose building is one of the takeover targets, told the Sun Sentinel his business is doing just fine.
“I’ve been here for about eight years now,” he said. “We don’t want to leave. We like the location. We’re a hub in the community. To pick up and leave is, to say the least, inconvenient. We understand there’s growth and development, but we seem to be on the short end of that stick.”
Steinberg, owner of Bob’s News, can relate.
Historic newsstands have closed around the country as print-news consumption has nosedived.
But Steinberg diversified to stay afloat and has managed to keep a steady stream of customers. He now sells beer, chips, candy — and the occasional newspaper.
“I used to have 10 strips of news racks in the back with foreign newspapers and out-of-town papers,” he told the Sun Sentinel. “We had local papers, national papers, foreign papers. I used to have 30 news racks. And now it’s just one in the front of the store. I sell newspapers because I have to. It’s a newsstand.”
Adult magazines on sale at Bob’s News and Books in Fort Lauderdale on March 27. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
His customers come from the courthouse, the neighborhood, the cruise ships, the airport — and even Broward Health.
Bob’s News has gotten rave reviews from customers, both old and new.
“A true original, a local gem,” one fan wrote on social media. Another noted that the store holds nostalgic value for patrons with fond memories of visiting in years past.
The business has been in Steinberg’s family for three generations, dating to 1974. First his grandparents ran it, then his mom, aunt and uncle.
Four years ago, Steinberg became the sole business owner when his uncle retired.
“I’m not the owner of the building,” Steinberg said. “My mom and uncle own the building. I own the business.”
Steinberg, 45, had planned to turn the business over to his son one day.
“That was my dream,” Steinberg said. “He’s still 15. Those dreams are squashed now.”
Customers are now getting wind that Broward Health wants to buy the building, Steinberg said.
“The million-dollar question is when,” Steinberg said. “Everybody’s upset. They’re acting like it’s tomorrow. They say, ‘You’ve been here for 50 years. How can this happen?’”
If his family is forced to sell the building, that leaves two options: Bob’s News and Books will turn out the lights for good or move to a new location.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I hope I can figure that out,” Steinberg said. “I want to relocate the business. I want to stay in Fort Lauderdale. It would have to be around here. But I haven’t even started looking.”
A section dedicated to banned books, shown on March 27, is featured at Bob’s News and Books on Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Sherry Steinberg, Erin’s mother, has been out of the business for 20 years.
But she remembers the heyday, when Bob’s was like Grand Central Station.
“People came from all over to come to my store,” she said. “People used to come over from the airport, hit my store, buy everything they needed and then go to a hotel. It was a wild time in the business. I had all the Italian magazines, all the Italian newspapers. Now all of that stuff is out of business.”
As far as being forced to sell the building, Sherry Steinberg has a c’est-la-vie attitude.
“It is what it is,” she said. “I am not thrilled about it, but they’ll buy me out I guess. And I’ll move on. I’m not fighting it. You can’t fight this. It’s eminent domain. And you have to change with the times.”
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan