Welcome back Ray!

[Photo yesterday by Peter Brownscombe]

Back on June 16, Ray Alvarez, the 82-year-old proprietor of Ray's Candy Store at 113 Avenue A, had heart valve replacement surgery.

Doctors discharged him on Wednesday evening from VillageCare Rehabilitation on West Houston Street with his new pacemaker.


[Photo Wednesday via Facebook]

Here's an update via the Ray's Candy Store Facebook page ... from Wednesday night:

Ray was released from his rehab facility today! His first stop, NATURALLY, was Ray's Candy Store, to get some oatmeal...and to try and help fix the air conditioner. A month after heart valve replacement surgery. Because, Ray.

The doctors and nurses FELL IN LOVE WITH RAY and were sad to see him go, but he's got a business to run and a neighborhood that needs him back where he belongs.

It may be a while before Ray is working the night shift again, but having him home means the world to us.

Yesterday, Ray was at work during the afternoon… taking it easy, but the same ol' Ray…


[PB]


[PB]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Get well soon, Ray!

Ray optimistically plans to return to his store next week

As we mentioned last week, Ray Alvarez, the 82-year-old proprietor of Ray's Candy Store at 113 Avenue A, had heart valve replacement surgery.

He hopes to return home to recuperate later this week. By all accounts, friends who have visited Ray say that he is doing quite well all things considered.

DNAinfo's Lisha Arino spoke with Ray for a story today.

“Everything is okay. I feel good,” he said on the phone Monday, before adding optimistically, “I’m going to be in my store next week.”

Get well soon, Ray!

[Photo via Facebook]

Ray Alvarez, the 82-year-old proprietor of Ray's Candy Store at 113 Avenue A, looks to be off his feet for a little while.

A friend of Ray's reports that he was recently having trouble breathing. He apparently has felt weak for some time. It finally became too acute, so he visited his doctor, who sent Ray straight to Beth Israel.

Yesterday, Ray had heart valve replacement surgery.

We're told that he is doing well and in typically good spirits. (He has also been asking for seconds on the hospital food.)

A number of people have been keeping him company at the hospital, where he'll likely remain until next week.

Several of Ray's regulars made a large card that people can sign at the shop starting this morning. The card will be delivered to Ray at the hospital. In addition, several friends chipped in to buy him a new bed for his recovery at home.


[Photo via Shawn Chittle]

Ray's now has onion rings

Last night, Ray introduced fried onion rings to his menu, per EVG regular Peter Brownscombe.

They are freshly cut and fried, not frozen...



113 Avenue A near East Seventh Street

At Ray's Candy Store, Ray celebrates a birthday with another burlesque extravaganza

Photos and text by Stacie Joy

Per tradition, well-wishers gathered at Ray's Candy Store for a little entertainment in honor of proprietor Ray Alvarez's birthday … featuring a new Ray's record of six dancers!

The tiny shop at 113 Avenue A was packed last night in honor of the longtime store owner's 82nd birthday. Burlesquers Hayden Riots, Gal Friday, Ginger Twist, Pearls Daily, Licketty Split and Pinkie Special helped Ray and company celebrate.

Gal Friday, making her third appearance for Ray's celebration, said that "Ray was her favorite guy," and that he had "a special place in her heart" as she kissed his cheek, leaving a red set of lip prints.

As for the rest of the entertainment…











The night was capped off with some Veniero’s cheesecake, presentation of a special book of images and stories about Ray, the traditional singing of "Happy Birthday," and smiles all around.



If you are nearby, then feel free to drop by Ray's to wish him a happy 82nd.



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Bonus exterior photo via jdx…



Slum Goddess has more photos AND video here.

Find more photos on the Ray's Candy Store Facebook page.

New Year's Eve on Avenue A featuring Lucy and Ray

First a stop at Lucy's …





… and later to Ray's …





Thank you to Peter Brownscombe for these photos!

Reader report: Ray's Candy Store hit with $200 fine for inadequate doughnut labels

EVG reader Peter Brownscombe relates this story from Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A…

The City of New York recently fined Ray's $200 for not having an adequate ingredients label on a packaged doughnut. Ray has now discontinued this line of packaged doughnuts but still carries a few croissants that do possess the correct labeling.

Good to know that the city is on top of this sort of thing.

40 years of Ray

Ray's Candy Store is entering its 40th year now on Avenue A ... on the occasion, NY1 stopped by this morning for a quick segment.

Per Ray:

"I'm here, and paying top price but I love it. I want to be here forever."

Watch the segment here. [Updated: Ugh, sorry — didn't realize that Time Warner made you sign in to view. We'll see if we can get a copy another way...]

OK, here's the segment via YouTube (thanks Shawn Chittle)



[H/T @RTSNYC]

Happy 81st birthday Ray!

[Photo by @zmack]

There was a bit of a celebration last night at Ray's Candy Store... as the proprietor celebrated his 81st birthday... And, as usual, someone sprung for some entertainment... We have more photos, though, someone has to think about the children. So we will post the rest of the adult contemporary shots for them later.

Happy birthday Ray!


[Photo by Shawn Chittle]


[SC]

Hugh Burckhardt has a lot more photos over at his More Than Usual blog... like this one!

A new sidewalk outside Ray's, and, thankfully, the same old stand

[Bobby Williams]

On Tuesday, the city started putting in a new sidewalk on Avenue A from East Seventh Street to just past Ray's Candy Store… displacing the familiar stand out front in the process ...


[BW]

Yesterday morning!


[EVG]


[EVG]


[EVG]

By last night, workers had moved the stand again...


[BW]


[EVG]

We were wondering what was going on with the stand. Just kinda moving around out in the open. We asked Kim, who works the day shift, what was happening… and he assured us that the stand, which may actually pre-date Ray, was returning to its usual resting place outside the store.

And just like that this morning...

Ray's Candy Store gets a new 1-year lease

From the "Finally There's Some Good Fucking News Department":

Ray has secured a new one-year lease for his beloved shop on Avenue A. There had been some worries about a huge rent hike and all that usual stuff. However, as we understand it, the increase is quite modest.

And, as you can see from that photo via Ray's Facebook page, he is very happy. And so are we.

On a sunny afternoon...

Via Ray's Candy Store on Facebook.

3 spring-like scenes

Photos today by Bobby Williams.

Ray's 80th birthday celebration — now in video!

Earlier today we posted photos from Ray's 80th birthday bash last night at Ray's Candy Store.

Now! Thanks to Slum Goddess, there is video... a lot of video... so head right over here to watch Miss Bunny Buxom, Jo “Boobs” Weldon, Miss Little Motown and Gal Friday... (Pervs!) Oh, kinda NSFW.

And happy birthday, Ray. Nice to see such a big smile from him.

Ray turns 80, and makes new friends

Last night, a few friends and neighbors gathered at Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A to celebrate the proprietor's 80th birthday. Per tradition, there was entertainment. Given the milestone birthday, organizers decided to up the ante and hire four entertainers... so last night, Miss Bunny Buxom, Jo “Boobs” Weldon, Miss Little Motown and Gal Friday took to Ray's for... this...

As we've written before, the annual birthday cheer is always a boost to Ray's spirits, a brief break from the 24/7 grind of the store and reminder how much people appreciate him...

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Thanks to Shawn Chittle for the photos. Find more photos (and in color!) from last night at Neighborhoodr.

[Neighborhoodr]

Oh, and the cake was from Veniero’s ...

There are more photos on the Ray's Candy Store Facebook page... like this one...

For previous birthday celebration photos, you can visit Bob Arihood's Neither More Nor Less for 2010 ... and 2009...