The sidewalk is the site of the informal vending economy that forms the basis for this book. It is a symbol of commerce as well as intellectual discourse, as evidenced by Duneier’s description of the wide range of customers—from a “high-school dropout” to a “jazz critic”—who engage in literary discussions at Hakim’s table (25). For unhoused men working on Sixth Avenue, however, the sidewalk provides not only their means of livelihood through vending or panhandling, but also the place where they rest and recuperate. The sidewalk is their shelter. There is no separation between private and public life. They sleep on sidewalks or in subway stations, growing so accustomed to the sidewalk that Mudrick refuses to sleep in a bed even when he has the opportunity to do so. Duneier makes this explicit in the chapter on public urination, as various vendors devise different strategies for relieving themselves, such as trying to convince a restaurant owner to use their facilities, peeing in a cup, or urinating on the side of the building.

Even though members of the sidewalk can maintain friendly relations with passing pedestrians—like Hakim’s relationship with regular customer Jerome—these public interactions can also lead to tensions with the surrounding community.