Tuesday's parting shot

Photo by Derek Berg 

A crew filmed Ray outside Ray's Candy Store today on Avenue A for a Japanese TV program ... we'll try to get more details on this...

Where you can get a copy of the Ray's Candy Store photo book

Photo on May 17 by Stacie Joy

We've mentioned "Candy Store," a years-in-the-making photo documentary about Ray's Candy Store.

Photographer Whitney Browne worked part-time at Ray's at 113 Avenue A from 2012-2017 and documented the late-night scene there. 

A percentage of each sale will go to Ray. (During the book launch on May 17, sales generated $1,000 for Ray.)

Anyway, several readers have asked where they buy a copy (we were vague with "select bookstores"):

• Bluestockings, 116 Suffolk St.

• Mast, 72 Avenue A

• The Strand, 828 Broadway

• Village Works, 12 St. Mark's Place

They are also available on Browne's website.

Weekend's parting shots

Photos yesterday by Stacie Joy 

Yesterday (Saturday!) saw the launch of "Candy Store," a years-in-the-making photo documentary about Ray's Candy Store. 

Photographer Whitney Browne worked part-time at Ray's from 2012-2017 and documented the late-night scene there. 

A percentage of each sale will go to Ray. And yesterday, the book sales generated $1,000 for Ray.

A few copies remain at the shop, 113 Avenue A near Seventh Street. Some are also available on Whitney's website and in select bookstores.

Reminder: A book launch for 'Candy Store' at Ray's today

Image via @canigetawhitney 

ICYMI (EVG post here): There is a launch event TODAY (May 17!) from 5-8 p.m. for "Candy Store," a years-in-the-making photo documentary centered entirely on Ray's Candy Store. 

Photographer Whitney Browne worked part-time at Ray's from 2012-2017 and documented the late-night scene at 113 Avenue A.

If you can't make it by today, the books are available for purchase on Whitney's website and in select bookstores. A percentage of each sale will go to Ray.

New photo book captures life inside Ray’s Candy Store

Photographer Whitney Browne is releasing her first book, "Candy Store," a years-in-the-making photo documentary centered entirely on Ray's Candy Store — the Avenue A mainstay since 1974. 

Browne, who first wandered into Ray's during late-night walks nearly two decades ago, spent years behind the counter, helping out and snapping photos. She became part of the place — trading stories with regulars, giving Ray breaks, and quietly documenting the rhythms of this East Village institution. All of it shot on film. 

Between 2012 and 2017, she kept her camera close, capturing what she describes as a "refuge" during her early years in New York — a place that offered both comfort and community during bouts of insomnia and uncertainty. 

The resulting book, "Candy Store," is less a glossy tribute and more a lived-in portrait — full of grain, charm, and quiet moments that feel like Ray's itself. 

To mark the release, there's a launch event at Ray's this Saturday (May 17!) from 5-8 p.m. Expect copies of the book, a DJ set by Lower East Sider Record Club, and the usual Ray's menu. Ray will be there, of course. 

The books are available for purchase on her website and in select bookstores.

And Ray's is at 113 Avenue A, just north of Seventh Street.

An afternoon with Ray

Photos by Stacie Joy 

This month, Ray Alvarez turns 92, and 2025 marks the 51st year in business for his NYC institution — Ray's Candy Store.

I stopped by the shop on Avenue A and spent a recent afternoon with Ray as he diligently worked on orders of deep-fried Oreos (sorry, we can't share the recipe!), beignets, and other specialties of the house...

... and chatted with customers...

Ray's Candy Store is at 113 Avenue A between Seventh Street and St. Mark's Place.

Friday's parting shot

Photo by Stacie Joy

On the Friday shift with Ray at Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A...

Thursday's parting shots

Photos by Peter Brownscombe

Danny Cortes presented Ray with a miniature Ray's Candy Store today outside the shop at 113 Avenue A...

The miniature/diorama artist has also created versions of the Mars Bar and 57 Great Jones St.

Friday's parting shot

Major league: Seeking some comfort food at Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A, late this afternoon...

DA: Man who attacked Ray outside Ray's Candy Store sentenced to 10 years in prison

Photo by Stacie Joy

Luis Peroza, arrested and charged for the late-night assault of Ray Alvarez outside Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A on Jan. 31, 2023, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison this afternoon, Manhattan D.A. Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. announced. 

Peroza, 40, was also charged with two other attacks in the East Village on that night. This past Dec. 14, Peroza pleaded guilty in a New York State Supreme Court to three counts of Assault in the First Degree. 

Here's more from Bragg's office: 

According to court documents and statements made on the record, on January 31, 2023, at approximately 3 a.m., Peroza approached the 90-year-old owner of Ray's Candy Store, who was standing outside of the store on Avenue A. Peroza asked if the owner would purchase canned drinks from him, but the owner declined. As admitted in the defendant's guilty plea, Peroza then struck him in the head with a hard object, breaking his jaw, fracturing his facial bones and giving him a black eye. 

Approximately half an hour later, Peroza demanded money from a 33-year-old man as he left a deli on Avenue C. The man said he did not have money and, as admitted in his guilty plea, Peroza struck him in the face with a hard object, breaking his orbital bone and causing a severe laceration to his face. 

Several hours later, Peroza approached a 51-year-old man on Avenue B and, as admitted in his guilty plea, repeatedly struck the man in the head with a hard object, lacerating his face and head, knocking out a tooth, and fracturing his facial bones.

EVG was the first media outlet to report on the assault. The story later made headlines in the U.S. (via CNN) and the UK. 

Following his arrest on Feb. 4, 2023, Peroza was described as "a career criminal," with 10 prior arrests dating to 2001 for robberies, assaults, criminal mischief and petit larceny, according to The Daily Mail. 

The Daily News reported that Peroza served five years in prison after he was convicted of an assault in the Bronx in 2003. A source told the News that the suspect is "next-level crazy."

Police also arrested Peroza's alleged accomplice, 55-year-old Gerald Barth. As previously reported, Barth's erratic behavior earned him the nickname "Insanity Claus" in Tompkins Square Park after he donned a discarded SantaCon suit. He was charged with first-degree assault and two counts each of first-degree robbery and first-degree attempted robbery. 

According to the DA's office, Barth was found unfit to stand trial. Last August, Barth was transferred from the Department of Corrections to the custody of the New York State Office of Mental Health. His case will move forward if/when he is found fit, per the DA's office. 

With reporting by Stacie Joy

H/T Steven

Previously on EV Grieve:

• A timeline of events after the assault outside Ray's Candy Store

2024 marks the 50th year in business for Ray's Candy Store

2024 photo by Peter Brownscombe 

At Ray's Candy Store, 2024 started with an anniversary as the shop officially turned 50. 

Ray Alvarez reportedly bought the shop at 113 Avenue A near Seventh Street in 1974 for $30,000. 

Also, this month, Ray celebrates his 91st birthday. (The day seems to be celebrated both on Jan. 1 and Jan. 25!)

So a happy anniversary and birthday to Ray!

Wednesday's parting calamari shots

Photos by Peter Brownscombe

Ray recently (re)introduced breaded calamari rings — served with fries, as the paper-plate signage notes...

Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A near Seventh Street, yes.

At Ray's Candy Store, you can now pay for those beignets and deep-fried Oreos via Venmo

Photo by Peter Brownscombe 

There's a new era here at Ray's Candy Store ... customers can now use Venmo to pay for purchases at the 49-year-old shop at 113 Avenue A near Seventh Street...

Hitting a high note

 

"Little Stoner" is a new track from a recently released record by singer-songwriter Max Stalker-Wilde. 

The video, filmed on 16mm by Jonas Bishop Hayes, was shot around the East Village, where Stalker-Wilde was born and raised. And Ray's Candy Store, where Stalker-Wilde has worked for the past few years, has a starring role. 

"In fact, I had to make a couple of milkshakes and egg creams during the shooting just so I could get the foot traffic moving faster for production's sake," he told us. 

Check out more of Stalker-Wilde's music at Bandcamp.

Flag days: Ray's Candy Store repping the East Village with egg creams at Rockefeller Center

The egg cream from Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A is part of the 2023 edition of The Flag Project at Rockefeller Center ... celebrating iconic NYC food (and drinks!). 

The flags will be on view from April 3-12 (missed that) and April 17-30. You can read more about the flag project here. 

The flag features art created by Peach Tao — in conjunction with the East Village-based Lisa Project — in honor of Ray's 90th birthday. The mural was on the wall outside 50 Avenue A earlier this year...

Images via @rayscandystore

D.A. announces indictment in assault outside Ray's Candy Store

Manhattan D.A. Bragg yesterday announced the indictment of two men for an alleged assault and robbery spree in the East Village on Jan. 31, whose victims included Ray Alvarez, the 90-year-old owner of Ray's Candy Store at 113 Avenue A. 

Luis Peroza, 39, and Gerald Barth, 55, were charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment (see below for specific charges). 

Said Bragg in a statement: "Ray's Candy Store is a beloved staple in the East Village community, and the attack on its owner is deeply upsetting to everyone who has ever visited this local institution. In addition to this alleged assault, these defendants are also charged with attacking two other strangers on the street within mere hours." 

As we first reported, Ray and his employee Gabe Thorne were attacked outside Ray's Candy Store around 3 a.m. on Jan. 31 when the pair went outside for some fresh air. A man, who police later identified as Peroza, struck Ray with a belt with a rock attached, causing a black eye and gash on Ray's temple. Gabe was hit across the chest. 

The suspect threatened to kill Ray, per the police report. All this apparently happened because Ray and Gabe declined an offer to buy seltzer water from Peroza and his accomplice, later named as Barth. 

According to the NYPD and media reports, after the assault at Ray's, Peroza and Barth showed up outside a deli on Avenue C, where they allegedly attacked a second victim. Per the Post: 

They blocked their second victim's path and demanded, "Give me your money!" authorities said. 

That's when Peroza hit the victim with "an unknown object, causing a deep, bleeding laceration" to his head and "a broken orbital bone, and substantial pain," according to the complaint filed by Manhattan prosecutors ... 

Later on Jan. 31, Barth allegedly struck a 51-year-old in the head on Avenue B with an unknown object after the man declined his request for a cigarette. Barth reportedly then left with the victim's smartphone. The victim suffered several fractured facial bones and had a tooth knocked out.

This EVG post has a timeline of the events leading up to the suspects' arrest. 

Both defendants remain in custody at Rikers. Peroza is due back in court on May 10; Barth on March 6, according to public records.

Luis Peroza, charged: 

• Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony, three counts 
• Robbery in the First Degree, a class B felony, two counts 
• Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, a class C felony, two counts 
• Robbery in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count 
• Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count
• Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count 

Gerald Barth, charged: 

• Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony, three counts 
• Robbery in the First Degree, a class B felony, two counts 
• Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, a class C felony, two counts 
• Robbery in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count 
• Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count 
• Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count

Suspects accused of assault outside Ray's Candy Store remain in jail

This past week, the two suspects who police arrested in connection to the assault outside Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A, on Jan. 31 had court appearances. 

Luis Peroza, who allegedly struck owner Ray Alvarez and employee Gabe Thorne with a belt with a rock attached, remains at Riker's. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 2.

Peroza, who previously served five years in prison for assault, was charged with first- and second-degree assault, two counts of first-degree robbery, and two counts of first-degree attempted robbery.

His alleged accomplice, Gerald Barth, also remains at Riker's. His next court date is March 1.

Barth was charged with first-degree assault and two counts each of first-degree robbery and first-degree attempted robbery. 

This post has more details on what has happened to date.

Meanwhile, yesterday, the social media accounts — on Twitter and Instagram — for Ray's Candy Store addressed the assault for the first time, thanking everyone for their support in the past two weeks... with shout-outs to media outlets for their coverage ...

“Ray, do you want to post about it?”

“No, no. I don’t want to put anything negative out there. Only positive.”

So, here’s one of our favorite photos of Ray.

Thank you to EVERYONE who has stopped into @RaysCandyStore to check on him. pic.twitter.com/XnRvSUD6jO

— Ray's Candy Store (@RaysCandyStore) February 12, 2023

Saturday's parting shot

Photo by N&Lon7th 

The Guardian Angels today presented Ray with an award of friendship outside Ray's Candy Store at 113 Avenue A... more details via the Daily News.

Cake and soup at Ray's Candy Store

Photos by Lola Sáenz 

A lot of smiles today at Ray's Candy Store as Stella celebrated a birthday with the help of her sister, Mary. 

Stella started working for Ray in 1977 — three years after the shop opened in 1974. 

Meanwhile, Ray continues on the mend after the assault outside the shop early on Jan. 31. 

With a dislocated jaw, Ray is on a liquid diet. Stella has been making him homemade soup, which she brings into the shop to blend for her longtime friend and boss...

A timeline of events after the assault outside Ray's Candy Store

We're recapping what has happened to date since the assault early in the morning on Jan. 31 outside Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A.

EVG was the first media outlet to report on the assault, and since then, the story has made headlines in the U.S. (via CNN) and the UK. Some of the following details have been linked to or reported on in previous posts... putting it all in one place here:

• Tuesday, Jan. 31

Ray Alvarez and his employee Gabe Thorne were attacked outside Ray's Candy Store around 3 a.m. when the pair went outside for some fresh air. A man, who police later identified as Luis Peroza, struck Ray with a belt with a rock attached, causing a black eye and gash on Ray’s temple. Gabe was hit across the chest. 

The suspect threatened to kill Ray, per the police report. All this apparently happened because Ray and Gabe declined an offer to buy seltzer water from Peroza and his accomplice. 

• Wednesday, Feb. 1 

Around 8:30 p.m., Ray officially filed a police report. Officers from the 9th Precinct visited the shop. Police checked out local security cameras and later released a surveillance image of the suspect. 

Sometime that night, police arrested Peroza's alleged accomplice, 55-year-old Gerald Barth, though this news wasn't released until Feb. 5. 

• Thursday, Feb. 2 

Ray initially declined to seek any medical treatment and continued to work as he has here since opening in 1974. 

On this night, a nurse finally convinced Ray to go to Beth Israel, where a CT scan revealed three broken bones in his face and a dislocated jaw. The doctor put Ray on antibiotics and told him to rest. 

• Saturday, Feb. 4 

Police announced that they arrested Peroza, later described as "a career criminal," with 10 prior arrests dating to 2001 for robberies, assaults, criminal mischief and petit larceny, according to The Daily Mail. 

The Daily News reported that Peroza served five years in prison after he was convicted for an assault in the Bronx in 2003. A source told the News that the suspect is "next-level crazy."

• Sunday, Feb. 5 

Peroza appeared before a judge at Manhattan Criminal Court, The Daily Mail reported. 

Luis Peroza, 39, covered his face with a mask and looked glum ... 

He spoke to confirm his name and told the hearing that he was homeless and lives in a shelter on the east side of Manhattan. 

According to the NYPD and media reports, after the assault at Ray's, Peroza and Barth showed up outside a deli on Avenue C, where they allegedly attacked a second victim. Per the Post: 

They blocked their second victim's path and demanded, "Give me your money!" authorities said. 

That's when Peroza hit the victim with "an unknown object, causing a deep, bleeding laceration" to his head and "a broken orbital bone, and substantial pain," according to the complaint filed by Manhattan prosecutors Saturday. 

What's next 

Peroza was charged with first- and second-degree assault, two counts of first-degree robbery, and two counts of first-degree attempted robbery. 

During the hearing, his bail was set at $200,000, and he was given the alternative of a $250,000 bond. Peroza remains in the Eric M. Taylor Center at Rikers until his next hearing on Thursday.

Barth, whose erratic past behavior earned him the nickname "Insanity Claus" in Tompkins Square Park after donning a discarded SantaCon suit, was charged with first-degree assault and two counts each of first-degree robbery and first-degree attempted robbery. 

Prosecutors ordered him held on $3,000 cash or a $5,000 bond. He's currently at the Eric M. Taylor Center and is scheduled to appear in court today.

According to the Post: "Barth allegedly pointed a finger at Peroza as the muscle in the unhinged incidents..." 

Updated 2/8: Barth remains in custody. His next court date is now set for March 1.

Yesterday, Ray said he wasn't feeling well and, accompanied by a nurse, went to see another doctor.