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Ray's Candy Store
Ray's Candy Store is a deli at 113 Avenue A in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. The store has been in business since 1974.
Owned and operated by Ray Alvarez, it serves an eclectic mix of foods, including egg creams, soft serve ice cream, frozen yogurt, New Orleans-style beignets, Belgian fries, and coffee. The store has been featured in several American books, films, and television shows.
Alvarez was born Asghar Ghahraman on January 1, 1933, in Tabriz, Iran. He served in the Iranian Navy. In 1963, while on tour of the East Coast of the United States, he deserted his ship and swam to shore off the coast of Virginia. After a few months in Miami, he moved to New York in 1964 where he worked for another decade as a dishwasher and waiter until he paid $30,000 to buy the store in 1974.
On the evening of August 6, 1988, what became known as the Tompkins Square Park Riot broke out between police and a group of protestors rallying against a recently enacted curfew on the park. Ray's Candy Store, across from the entrance to the park, remained open during the riot that ensued. Ray said he stayed open "because all the combatants were his customers."
On the morning of June 19, 1992, Curtis Sliwa, the founder and CEO of the vigilante group Guardian Angels, was kidnapped and shot by two gunmen after entering a stolen taxi outside Ray's Candy Store.
In early 2010, Ray's Candy Store fell behind on its rent and faced eviction by its landlord. The business was the subject of much press as a result. In a broad show of support, friends, neighbors, customers, and other community members quickly rushed to Ray's aid, hosting various fundraisers and starting a social media campaign meant to boost the beloved business's profile.
In July 2011, after many decades, Ray became a naturalized U.S. citizen at a ceremony held at 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan. Due to fears as an illegal immigrant, he adopted the identity of a Puerto Rican named Ray Alvarez. In the 1980s, Ray received amnesty under President Ronald Reagan, however, his green card was mailed to the wrong address, and he continued to lack documentation. At age 78, Ray was finally able to qualify to become an American citizen.
New York photographer Robert "Bob" Arihood often staked out a spot in front of Ray's Candy store taking pictures of the comings and going around the store and often portrayed Ray and his store on his blog, Neither more nor less. After Arihood's death in October 2011, he was temporarily memorialized on the sign of Ray's Candy Store.
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Ray's Candy Store
Ray's Candy Store is a deli at 113 Avenue A in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. The store has been in business since 1974.
Owned and operated by Ray Alvarez, it serves an eclectic mix of foods, including egg creams, soft serve ice cream, frozen yogurt, New Orleans-style beignets, Belgian fries, and coffee. The store has been featured in several American books, films, and television shows.
Alvarez was born Asghar Ghahraman on January 1, 1933, in Tabriz, Iran. He served in the Iranian Navy. In 1963, while on tour of the East Coast of the United States, he deserted his ship and swam to shore off the coast of Virginia. After a few months in Miami, he moved to New York in 1964 where he worked for another decade as a dishwasher and waiter until he paid $30,000 to buy the store in 1974.
On the evening of August 6, 1988, what became known as the Tompkins Square Park Riot broke out between police and a group of protestors rallying against a recently enacted curfew on the park. Ray's Candy Store, across from the entrance to the park, remained open during the riot that ensued. Ray said he stayed open "because all the combatants were his customers."
On the morning of June 19, 1992, Curtis Sliwa, the founder and CEO of the vigilante group Guardian Angels, was kidnapped and shot by two gunmen after entering a stolen taxi outside Ray's Candy Store.
In early 2010, Ray's Candy Store fell behind on its rent and faced eviction by its landlord. The business was the subject of much press as a result. In a broad show of support, friends, neighbors, customers, and other community members quickly rushed to Ray's aid, hosting various fundraisers and starting a social media campaign meant to boost the beloved business's profile.
In July 2011, after many decades, Ray became a naturalized U.S. citizen at a ceremony held at 26 Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan. Due to fears as an illegal immigrant, he adopted the identity of a Puerto Rican named Ray Alvarez. In the 1980s, Ray received amnesty under President Ronald Reagan, however, his green card was mailed to the wrong address, and he continued to lack documentation. At age 78, Ray was finally able to qualify to become an American citizen.
New York photographer Robert "Bob" Arihood often staked out a spot in front of Ray's Candy store taking pictures of the comings and going around the store and often portrayed Ray and his store on his blog, Neither more nor less. After Arihood's death in October 2011, he was temporarily memorialized on the sign of Ray's Candy Store.
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