Payments

Van Leeuwan backs off on cashless following NYC cash law

Image via Istock.com

October 21, 2022

New York City passed a ban on cashless businesses in November 2020, but not all businesses followed the guideline, including ice cream chain Van Leeuwen. The chain recently reached a settlement with the city, despite already paying thousands in fines, according to a NY Eater report.

The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection was about to file a court order against the chain, "which prompted Van Leeuwen to finally and immediately comply with the Cashless Ban Law at all New York City locations and to pay $33,000 in outstanding civil penalties," a press release by the DCWP stated.

Mayor Eric Adams said in a press release "Cash is king, which is why the Cashless Ban Law was passed to protect the unbanked and underbanked in our city." He also said Van Leeuwen should serve as an example that NYC "will not allow any business to take advantage of this vulnerable population or penalize customers just for wanting to use cash to pay for things."

The DCWP has also hit other businesses with fines such as Bien Cuit's Grand Central location and Junzi Kitchen's Morningside Heights location.