This is interesting to me, as there are at least two businesses right near me that only accept cash because apparently they don't want to deal with payment processors like Visa & Mastercard and the fees that are involved.  I don't know of any businesses in my state that won't take your paper money or coins.  That seems very odd to me--whatever happened to "cash is king"?  Why would any merchant not accept cash?

I totally get that people love paying for things with plastic or their smartphone, but there should always be an option to pay for things with physical money IMO.  Not only is it cheaper for the merchant but it's sometimes more convenient for some people, plus you have to deal with problems like the power going out or not being able to connect to the payment processor.  What do you do in situations like that--not make sales?  That's crazy.

I'm not a New Yorker and rarely go there anymore, but this is a good move on their part I think.

Exactly.  That population is by no means negligible.  Some people beg for their meals or collect pocket change, and how are they supposed to pay for things if society goes completely cashless?