Newton Yellow Cab Taxi Company Closes

NEWTON, MA — If you looked up the definition of a taxi a picture of a Newton Yellow Cab might pop up. From their opening in the 1960s until about five years ago they had a hopping business, more recently their business was centered around loyal clients and senior citizens who don't have smart phones or those who haven't figured out yet how to sign up for ride sharing apps.

But late Wednesday night, or Thursday morning, Aug. 31, in the wee hours, Newton Yellow Cab, which has carted residents to and from the airport and off on errands and home from friends home drunk will hang up the dispatch radio and hang up the keys, Laura Lovett of the Newton TAB reported first.

The closure of the traditional cab company highlights a trend that's happening across the country as less regulated ride-sharing apps, like Uber and Lyft force out the old guard.

"We can't compete," said Paul Ward who grew up in West Newton and was manning the phones on the last day while another dispatcher held a retirement party at the Newton Elk's lodge. "Somebody's got to man the phones for the last day," he told Patch Wednesday evening.

And owner Richard Johnston does credit ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft as the downfall of the business, according to the TAB. Paying for the special regulations required of taxi companies and the cost of paying for insurance and background checks on an entire fleet certainly didn't help the owner's bottom line. But add to that added - often cheaper- competition that came with the share economy and business sunk.

Changing with the times didn't seem like an option. Newton Yellow cab is a product of a bygone era, and the dispatcher used a good ole pen and pad of paper to make notes. There's no computer here, reported the TAB.

Ward said he worried about the customers the company would leave behind. As for the cars themselves? He said the company had received a call from someone in Ohio looking to buy some of the fleet of their iconic Crown Victorian cars. "They don't make em like this any more," he told Patch.

He estimated he'd lock up the shop around 2 a.m. — the company's regular closing time. But perhaps at midnight, he said, if they didn't get many calls.

As for what he'd do next? Ward said he was getting ready for the Brimfield Antique Flea Market, where he sets up a little collectible shop.

"Gotta keep moving," he said.

Read the TAB's full article here: Newton's Iconic Yellow Cab To Call It Quits Wednesday

Image via Google Maps Street View Screen shot