 Ray's Candy Store storefront,c. June 2019. Ray Alvarez can be seen in the window. | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Deli, confectionary |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Founder | Ray Alvarez (Asghar Ghahraman) |
| Headquarters | 113Avenue A, |
Area served | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Website | rayscandystore |
Ray's Candy Store is adeli at 113Avenue A in theEast Village neighborhood ofManhattan in New York City.[1] The store has been in business since 1974.
Owned and operated by Ray Alvarez, it serves an eclectic mix of foods, includingegg creams,soft serve ice cream,frozen yogurt,New Orleans-stylebeignets,Belgian fries, and coffee.[2] The store has been featured in several American books, films, and television shows. It has also become known for its annual "Birthday Burlesque Extravaganza," an invite-only birthday party held in honor of the proprietor.
Alvarez was born Asghar Ghahraman on January 1, 1933, inIran, and moved to New York in 1964 after serving in the Iranian Navy,[3] where he worked for another decade as a dishwasher until he paid $30,000 for the candy store in 1974.
On the evening of August 6, 1988, what became known as theTompkins Square Park Riot broke out between police and a group of protestors rallying against a recently enacted curfew on the park.[4][5] 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."[6]
On the morning of June 19, 1992,Curtis Sliwa, the founder and CEO of the vigilante groupGuardian Angels, was kidnapped and shot by two gunmen after entering a stolen taxi outside Ray's Candy Store.[7]
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.[6][8][9] 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.[10][11]
In July 2011, after many decades, Ray became a naturalized U.S. citizen at a ceremony held at 26Federal Plaza in lower Manhattan. Due to fears as an illegal immigrant, he adopted the identity of a Puerto Rican named Ray Alvarez.[3] In the 1980s, Ray receivedamnesty under PresidentRonald Reagan, however, hisgreen card was mailed to the wrong address, and he continued to lack documentation.[12] At age 78, Ray was finally able to qualify to become an American citizen.[13]
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.[14]
On January 31, 2023, at approximately 3:00 am, Ray was attacked outside his store just weeks after his 90th birthday. Luis Peroza and Gerald Barth were arrested for the assault and robbery spree in the East Village on February 4. Per the indictment byManhattan district attorneyAlvin Bragg, Peroza approached Ray and one of his employees and asked if Ray would purchase canned drinks from him, but Ray declined. Peroza then handed the drinks to Barth before he returned to Ray and struck him in the head with an unknown weapon, cutting his face and giving him a black eye, fracturing facial bones, and breaking his jaw.[15] The attack received coverage by multiple local, national, and international news sources. An image of Ray with a black eye and bruised temple was featured on the cover of the February 3rd print edition of theNew York Daily News.[16] Nonetheless, Ray insisted on immediately returning to working the counter at his business without so much as taking a break after the attack.[16]
Beginning in 2007, some friends and employees of Ray's have thrown him an annual birthday party at the store, typically featuring a lineup of local burlesque dancers. The invite-only surprise party is often chronicled by local media and is cheekily referred to by the store's staff as "THE BEST TRADITION IN NEW YORK CITY™."[17][18]
In the 1993 film dramaWhat About Me, two actors approach the exterior to-go window of Ray's Candy Store and order milk shakes. The voice of proprietor Ray Alvarez can be heard taking their order through the window.
In the 1995 action filmDie Hard with a Vengeance, the exterior of Ray's Candy Store was featured in a scene filmed in and aroundTompkins Square Park.[19]
In July 2010, Ray was featured in aFox News special hosted byJohn Stossel called "What's Great about America."[20]
In November 2011, both an interior and exterior shot of Ray's Candy Store were featured in an episode of theHBO comedy-drama seriesHow to Make It in America. The episode, titled "The Friction," was the seventh episode of the second season.[21] In an interview, principal actor,Bryan Greenberg, who attended NYU as a student, made particular reference to the scene shot at Ray's as a "full circle moment for me." In the scene, actors Greenberg andVictor Rasuk meet up for some frites to discuss brand business, while at their backs a "Save Ray's Candy Store" poster is in clear sight. They eventually walk outside onto Avenue A where the exterior hodgepodge of store signage receives its owncameo.[22]
In 2014, Ray and the interior of Ray's Candy Store appeared in an episode of theVice Media documentary web seriesFuck, That's Delicious starring rapper, and former chef,Action Bronson.[23]
In November 2018, Ray's Candy Store was featured in the series finale of CNN's travel and food show,Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. The episode, titled "Lower East Side" – which brought Bourdain's culinary travelogue full circle back to his hometown of New York – aired November 11, 2018.[24] In the scene, Bourdain and friend, musicianHarley Flanagan, stop into Ray's Candy Store to chat up the proprietor and sample his famous eggs creams. Said Bourdain upon his first sip, "That is a superb egg cream."
In the 1997 bookNew York Eats (More): The Food Shopper's Guide to the Freshest Ingredients, the Best Take-Out & Baked Goods, & the Most Unusual Marketplaces in All of New York by Ed Levine, Ray's Candy Store is highlighted in a section on the egg cream.[25]
In 2015, the business was featured inJames and Karla Murray's bookStore Front II: A History Preserved, a photographic chronicle of historical and storied businesses in New York City.[26]
In 2018, Ray's Candy Store was mentioned inWilliam B. Helmreich'sThe Manhattan Nobody Knows: An Urban Walking Guide.[27]
In 2022, an illustration of the place was included inNYC Storefronts: Illustrations of the Big Apple's Best-Loved Spots by Joel Holland and David Dodge.[28]
In 2023, Ray's Candy Store was featured in another ofJames and Karla Murray's books,Store Front NYC: Photographs of the City's Independent Shops, Past and Present.[29]
In 2024, it was featured inNicolas Heller's book,New York Nico's Guide to NYC.[30]
In 2025, Ray's Candy Store was featured in Rolando Pujol's book, "The Great American Retro Road Trip."[31]
The song "Lilly's Treat" by ska-punk band, Team Spider, off of their 2002 collaboration album with No Cash entitled "Summertime in the City" makes several references to Ray, Avenue A, and his famed egg creams.[32]
In 2017, Ray and the interior and exterior of the store were featured in rock musicianJesse Malin's music video for "Meet Me at the End of the World."[33]
In August 2021, a two-part interview with Ray was featured on author, photographer, and bloggerBrandon Stanton's popular photoblog,Humans of New York.[34][35]
In August 2015, Ray's Candy Store was selected as theGreenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation's "Business of the Month."[36]
In November 2016, Ray's Candy Store won "Best Restaurant" in the East Village in the inauguralTime Out New YorkLove New York Awards.[37]
In 2020, Ray's Candy Store was awarded a "Village Award" by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation. The awards recognize those people, places, and organizations that make a significant contribution to the quality of life in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo."[38]
40°43′34.55″N73°59′0.74″W / 40.7262639°N 73.9835389°W /40.7262639; -73.9835389
