[Updated] Early morning assault outside Ray's Candy Store leaves Ray with a black eye and facial wounds

Photos by Lola Sáenz 

The post now includes a photo that the NYPD provided of the suspect (see below) ... Updated 2/3: Ray went to the hospital — details here.

Updated 2/4: The 9th Precinct has arrested the suspect in this attack.

Ray's 90th birthday crowdfunding campaign continues here.

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Word is circulating about an assault outside Ray's Candy Store that left Ray Alvarez, the shop's 90-year-old proprietor, with a black eye and a gash on his temple.

Here's what we've been told via several sources: Early Tuesday on the overnight shift, Ray and his employee Gabe walked outside the shop at 113 Avenue A around 3 a.m. for some fresh air. At that point, two men — apparently known to regulars along Avenue A — approached Ray and Gabe here just north of Seventh Street. 

The men were apparently trying to sell seltzer water. After declining the offer, the men angrily left. One of the men quickly returned, produced a metal pipe with a ball attached to the end, and struck the pair, hitting Gabe in the chest and Ray across the left side of his face. The man then ran off.

The blow left Ray, who fell to the ground bleeding, with a black eye and facial wounds... 

So far, Ray has not sought any medical treatment and continues to work. Last night, he officially filed a report with the 9th Precinct. Two officers stopped by Ray's to take his statement and begin an investigation.

Ray, who turned 90 last month, opened the shop in 1974. We can't recall anything like this happening to him before...  [Updated: See comments — I forgot about the time Marlene (aka Hot Dog) slammed the sidewalk gates on Ray's head.]

Updated 1:45 p.m. 

The NYPD released this image of the suspect... the police report also lists the weapon as "a belt that had a heavy rock affixed to the end" ...

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477). You may also submit tips online. All calls are strictly confidential.

Reposting: A GoFundMe campaign launched ahead of Ray's 90th birthday at Ray's Candy Store

In the aftermath of the assault on Ray last week outside Ray's Candy Store (story here and here), several readers-residents asked us to repost the crowdfunding campaign for the shop from November. 

Ahead of Ray's 90th birthday last month, the shop, which opened in 1974 here at 113 Avenue A just north of Seventh Street, hosted a GoFundMe "to help ensure he can keep his bills paid and his doors open for as long as he wants!" 

February is typically one of the slowest months for Ray ... and given that he may be out of commission while mending the three broken bones in his face and a dislocated jaw, some Ray's fans have been donating to the campaign.

Meanwhile, we're told that Ray is resting and eating a lot of blended soups. 

The crowdfunding link is right here.

Documentary filmmaker looking for archival photos-footage of Ray's Candy Store

A local filmmaker is working on a documentary about Ray and Ray's Candy Store. He’s looking for older photos or footage of Ray and the store on Avenue A near Seventh Street ... like the one above from the late 1970s by Michael Sean Edwards.

Here's the contact info: ray@rayscandystore.com

An 83rd birthday celebration for Ray at Ray's Candy Store

[Bettina May]

Ray Alvarez, the hard-working proprietor of Ray's Candy Store, turned 83 last month.



And, as is tradition, some of Ray's friends/regulars brought in entertainment — burlesque dancers Pearls Daily, Lilin Lace, The Maine Attraction, Bettina May and Lickety Split — for a birthday celebration, which took place last night at the shop at 113 Avenue A.

EVG correspondent Stacie Joy shared a few photos...


[Lickety Split]


[The Maine Attraction]


[Lilin Lace]


[Pearls Daily]







The Ray's birthday party celebration with dancers goes back to 2007. Check out Bob Arihood's photos from Ray's 74th birthday bash here.

Phony Express debuts a birthday tribute to Ray at Ray's Candy Store

In honor of Ray's birthday this month at Ray's Candy Store, newly created local band Phony Express (read the backstory here) dropped a new single — "Ray's Party."

 

Ray's 88th birthday at Ray's Candy Store goes global with virtual greetings

Earlier this week, a few friends stopped by Ray's Candy Store at 113 Avenue A to wish Ray a happy 88th birthday... (given the pandemic, there wan't any type of in-person celebration as in previous years — a tradition dating to 2007).

Gifts included mini cheesecakes from Veniero's that spelled out R-A-Y ...

Ray also watched the birthday video tributes that people recorded for him...

Greetings came in from Australia, Mexico, Chile, Italy, England, France and Spain. (There's video at the shop's Instagram account.) 

Per the Ray's Instagram account (where these photos came from):

[T]o everyone who has checked in on Ray and Co. throughout this very trying and weird year, or ordered delivery or something from the to-go window, or sent a tweet or encouraging note on Facebook and Instagram, THANK YOU. Ray truly loves you. You are all his family and mean the world to him. He can't wait to see more of you soon enough.

DOH shutters Ray's Candy Store

Terrible news via EV Grieve contributor Dave on 7th... The DOH paid a visit to the venerable Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A this morning ...

Per Dave, the DOH has shuttered Ray's for the time being... We'll have more soon...

The latest inspection hasn't been posted yet. The last inspection was Nov. 10, where Ray's received 15 points, including for "Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared."

A new sign for Ray's Candy Store, and a visit by Kim Kardashian West

Here's a look at the almost completed new sign at Ray's Candy Store ... NYC-based illustrator Peach Tao (with help from Will DeNatale and Shreya Gupta) started work on Sunday.

Peach said she still has a few more details to add.



This version replaces the well-weathered facade that Chico created in July 2016. Chico's previous sign here was in part a tribute to neighborhood photographer Bob Arihood, who died in September 2011.

Steven took these photos yesterday afternoon.

Early last evening around 6:45, Kim Kardashian West stopped by the shop here on Avenue A near Seventh Street with friends (besties?) Simon Huck and Jonathan Cheban to celebrate La La Anthony's birthday (this info via Instagram).

The reality TV star and makeup mogul shared photos/clips in her Instagram Stories showing the group ordering milkshakes and deep-fried Oreos from Ray, who was working behind the counter...





In true Kardashian fashion, there were reports of "a mob scene" outside the shop during the brief stopover, as Ray's was plunged into the paparazzi world ... with black sedans and bodyguards on Avenue A...




[Bottom 2 photos via @RaysCandyStore]

Last week, it was Kendall Jenner's turn to stop by Ray's.

H/T Jon-Michael!

Previously on EV Grieve:
Kim Kardashian was in the East Village on Tuesday, ever so discreetly

Ray gets to see Ray's Candy Store on 'Parts Unknown'

CNN aired the series finale of Anthony Bourdain's "Parts Unknown" last night, as you might know. The episode, which arrived five months after the TV host and writer's death, was set in the East Village and Lower East Side. "This is a show about a very special place, a special time, and some very special people," Bourdain announced in the intro, the only voice-over during the 75-minute show.

Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A was among the stops (this listicle has all the places he visited) that Bourdain made with a variety of artists, musicians and filmmakers.

Ray was working and didn't get to watch any of the episode. However, afterwards, he was able to see his appearance — in which he serves Bourdain and Harley Flanagan egg creams — courtesy of Eden's smartphone. (EVG contributor Stacie Joy was among the people who stopped by Ray's last night.)

Meanwhile, over at Eater, Greg Morabito complied his best moments-quotes from the episode, including:

Bourdain asking Jim Jarmusch and Amos Poe about the neighborhood: “What do you think now when you walk around the neighborhood? You paid some dues to walk down back in the day, now it’s projectile vomiting frat boys with their baseball caps on backwards. Does this give you a sinking feeling or make you angry?”

Jarmusch, responding: “The thing that I always tell myself is: Look at the history of New York City, and it’s always about hustling and change. And if you want it to stay the same, man, you’ve got the wrong historical spot, because there used to be a Native American trading post on the tip of Manhattan. It’s now Wall Street.”

More trouble for Ray's; additional $2k fine levied, food tossed

Bob Arihood at Neither More Nor Less has a report on yesterday's DOH closure of Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A. According to a news report, despite the DOH closure, Ray decided to stay open so that he could make his rent. Unfortunately, the DOH returned at 4:30 yesterday afternoon and slapped Ray with a $2,000 fine for defying the order. In addition, as Bob reports, Ray had to toss all of his food products and immediately close. Bob has a lot more details here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
DOH shutters Ray's Candy Store

Ray's now 0-4 vs. the DOH this week

Despite visits from an exterminator and epic cleaning sessions, the DOH inspectors continue to find things to keep Ray's Candy Store from reopening. As Bob Arihood reports at Neither More Nor Less, an inspector returned to the Avenue A shop yesterday. Third fourth time this week; fifth different inspector (they sent two at once, uh, once), who are all motivated to find violations, naturally. After two hours, the inspector found a few mouse droppings as well as a restroom door that didn't close properly. As Bob writes: "This inquisition could go on forever and Ray's Candy Store will never open.

Bob has more thoughts on all this in another post. In part, he writes:

We have to say here that though we are aware that Ray is not without fault what this city is doing to him and to other small businesses is wrong. With this soulless ravenous beast of a city administration at the door of every small business regularly, few will survive.

Read the whole thing here.

Photo by Dave on 7th taken Monday morning before the first inspection.

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.

Good days for Ray's!

On Wednesday, we noted that Ray's Candy Store was hosting a GoFundMe for owner Ray Alvarez ... and his shop at 113 Avenue A "to help ensure he can keep his bills paid and his doors open for as long as he wants!" 

And there was a big outpouring for Ray, who turns 90 in January... the fund just past $40,000 this morning...

WOW!!! THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT!!! JUST UNBELIEVABLE. SO HUMBLED. ON CLOUD NINE! PLEASE COME VISIT AND SAY HI ANYTIME. AND HELP SPREAD THE WORD.

SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO @EVGRIEVE AND @NEWYORKNICO! 🙏https://t.co/94vhtfXXtA#fundrayscandystore pic.twitter.com/GzsMpljgkp

— Ray's Candy Store (@RaysCandyStore) November 11, 2022

Top photo by Stacie Joy

New at Ray's Candy Store: chicken and waffles (ice cream optional)

The paper-plate signage is up at Ray's Candy Store, 113 Avenue A, announcing the latest menu item — chicken and waffles ($9, or $11 if you want ice cream with it)... and here's Ray's with the non-ice-cream version...



News and photos by Peter Brownscombe

An Evening at Ray's Candy Store

Last night saw another Evening at Ray's Candy Store: A Special Restaurant Week Chef's Tasting Event.

For $10, attendees could enjoy a five-course tasting menu featuring a selection of Ray's finest and favorites — prepared by Chef Ray himself...



EVG regular Peter Brownscombe shared there photos from the shop at 113 Avenue A...

A look at the Ray's Candy Store photo exhibit

You have two more days to catch "At Ray’s: Connection Is Why We’re Here," the photography exhibit highlighting Ray's Candy Store on Avenue A by Whitney Browne.

EVG regular Peter Brownscombe stopped by the gallery space at 103 Allen St. and Delancey yesterday (the opening was Thursday night)...









Gallery hours today are 2-8 p.m. … and Monday, 6-9 p.m.

Find more details here. The exhibit is co-presented with miLES.

You can read our Q-and-A with Browne here.

For the time being, Ray's Candy Store will no longer be open 24/7

As previously noted, Ray Alvarez, the 82-year-old proprietor of Ray's Candy Store at 113 Avenue A, had heart valve replacement surgery earlier this summer.

While Ray is back and doing well by all accounts...



... EVG reader and Ray's regular Peter Brownscombe passes along word that Ray has decided to downsize his operation, and cut back his hours and staffing. For the foreseeable future, he will keep his shop open near East Seventh Street from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily...



Photos today via Peter Brownscombe

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

PayPal account established for Ray's Candy Store

A PayPal account has been established to help Ray's Candy Store. Those who are interested in helping out may use this e-mail address:

saverayscandystore@gmail.com

Previously:
Behind the landlord ultimatum at Ray's

For more updates, be sure to check out Neither More Nor Less. Bob Arihood always has the latest.

Ray's Candy Store named best East Village restaurant

Ray was pleased to learn that Ray's Candy Store at 113 Avenue A was named "Best Restaurant" in the East Village by readers of Time Out. (Officially the Time Out Love New York Awards.) Fried Oreos for everyone! For dinner!

The other reader awards in this neighborhood were ... Bar: Alphabet City Beer Co. on Avenue C ... Cafe/Coffee Shop: Coffee Project New York on Fifth Street between Second Avenue and Cooper Square (they were picked the best in the city) ... Shops: East Village Cheese on Seventh Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue ... and Local Culture: UCBEast on Avenue A and Third Street (the runner-ups in this category were City Cinemas Village East and Anthology Film Archives in case you were wondering ... like I was)...



Thanks to EVG regular Peter Brownscombe for the photos...