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

Out and About in the East Village

In this weekly feature, East Village-based photographer James Maher provides us with a quick snapshot of someone who lives and/or works in the East Village.



By James Maher

Name: Wendy Scripps
Occupation: Owner, Art on A Gallery and Wendigo Productions
Location: Sidewalk Cafe, East 6th Street and Avenue A
Time: 5 pm on Saturday, July 25

I was born and raised in Northern California. I didn’t fit in so I moved to New York and found out that I could fit in here, because basically on the Lower East Side they didn’t really care as long as you didn’t mess with anybody. I’ve been in this neighborhood for just over 30 years. My parents were living on the Upper West Side and I lived there for about a year but then moved down here when I was about 21 or 22 years old.

I got downtown and it was what people would consider scary but I really loved it because it was very raw. I felt back then that people always had your back — friends and neighbors. Nobody had cellphones and there weren’t cameras everywhere, but everybody watched out for each other. People would look out the windows and if somebody they knew on the block was getting harassed they would come out with baseball bats and chase them away.

If the cops were going to do a cleanup, it got through the neighborhood and people would hide out. People who were doing illegal things would disappear for a few days and then everybody was back on the streets. It was a serious community and it was a very mixed community because you had your punk rockers, your rock and rollers, the hardcore scene, plus you had the neighborhood people, who were born and raised here for generations. You had the Puerto Ricans and the Hispanic community and there was the Jewish community still here pretty much.

My parents were both in the arts, but it was just something that was in me. My father used to take me to rock 'n' roll shows when I was young. My first show was The Last Waltz with the Band back in San Francisco, and ever since then my dad started taking me to rock 'n' roll shows. He passed away in 2007. On his deathbed he told me — he yelled at me — that if I didn’t do something in rock 'n' roll, he’d kick my ass. So I said, ‘OK dad, I’ll definitely do it. Give me a few years and I’ll figure out what I’m going to do.’

I own the Art on A Gallery on Avenue A between Second Street and Third Street and I’m the CEO of Wendigo Productions. We do underground films, characters and stuff like that, and also we are rock 'n' roll promoters. So I’m a busy lady. I work with local artists from the neighborhood and this immediate area.

I really love it here but when I go home sometimes from show at five in the morning I actually feel more nervous going home these days than I did back then. There are all these self-absorbed young people walking around with attitudes on their shoulders like they’re better than anybody. I’m a high school dropout, I never went to college, but I’m in three businesses, I own my apartment. I’m starting a nonprofit to help artists in the neighborhood so they can actually still stay in the neighborhood. I don’t want to be the last of my East Village family.

One thing that I love about New York — you walk down the street and hear every language. You can tell when they’re just visiting and you can tell when they’re living here just by how they react to you when you’re walking down the street. I get a lot of reaction because of my tattoos – I still get people looking at me very strange in the neighborhood and I’m like, what? I’m an old punk... That’s the only reason why I left California because I was born punk rock. Not a hippie. I just didn’t get along with the hippie mentality even when I was a small child. I just didn’t get it.

My mom explained something to me about why I probably feel so at home here — it was because my great grandfather grew up here. I didn’t know who he was until my 30s. His name was Samuel Gompers. He grew up in this neighborhood as an immigrant with his aunt and his uncle and a brother. He rolled cigars and swept floors. When he grew up he became one of the major union organizers in the country and he helped found Labor Day. So I feel like, when some young kid goes to me, ‘You know who my father is?’ I go, ‘Well you know who my great grandfather is?’ There have been a few times where I’ve said, ‘I’d like to punch your father in the face because you’re an asshole.’

You get to know your neighbors in New York. You get to know the people in your buildings. You get to know your bartenders, your favorite waitresses, your favorite chefs, your favorite restaurants, your favorites bars and clubs to hang out in. There’s a connect. It’s like everybody pretty much knows every other person and I like that. It’s like a large family. It’s very comforting.

James Maher is a fine art and studio photographer based in the East Village. Find his website here.

Hoops dreams: Checking in on the Tompkins Square Park basketball courts

Workers started digging up the Tompkins Square Park basketball courts on May 29. City officials said that the courts were expected to reopen by the end of June, when NYC schools were out, per DNAinfo.

Dave on 7th stopped by yesterday to see how things were looking…



The resurfacing appears complete. (Workers began this on July 6.)



Workers installed the backboard supports yesterday...



Now we just need backboards and some hoops. (Hopefully they aren't on back order.)

As previously reported, the New York City Parks Department teamed up with YouTube for the renovations. YouTube is funding the operation, estimated at $300,000.

The rendering shows a YouTubey (YouTubeish?) color scheme on the courts… Not sure if the final courts will have this… or if the courts will feature TVs continuously looping PewDiePie…


[Rendering via YouTube]

Previously on EV Grieve:
Tompkins Square Park basketball courts closed for renovations; YouTube-backed hoops on the way

Not-at-all out-of-place-looking luxury rental building for sale on East 5th Street

Let's head over to 530-532 E. Fifth St. between Avenue A and Avenue B, where this six-story, 10-unit rental is now on the market…

Here's the pitch via Cushman & Wakefield:

The building was built in 2013 using high quality, energy-efficient materials and features a virtual concierge, video security, and common roof deck with elevator service. The residential units are in excellent condition and feature chef’s kitchens, reclaimed wood flooring, oak doors, Caesarstone kitchen countertops, pre-wired alarm systems, individual temperature controls and HVAC systems (tenant expense), washers/dryers, stone tiled bathrooms, and private outdoor balconies. Additionally, units 1R and 1F have private gardens, and unit 5R has a private roof deck.

The property is only two blocks south of Tompkins Square Park and less than four blocks from the F train stop at 2nd Avenue. It is also within close proximity to popular neighborhood hot spots such as the famous Orpheum Theater, the East River Park, the Bowery Hotel, and The Standard East Village. This is an excellent opportunity for an investor to purchase a high cash flowing, low maintenance asset, or an immediate condo conversion project in the heart of the East Village.

Rentals here average about $6,200, per Streeteasy.

And the building price: $12.5 million.

Now we'll head back into the EVG archives to when the demolition started on the previous building here in November 2008…

Report: Shelter for homeless woman on Lafayette sold; retail tenant wanted

A 43-bed shelter for homeless women on Lafayette Street at Bond Street has been sold for $26 million, The Real Deal first reported.

Aby Rosen's RFR Holding is reportedly the new owner.

Per The Real Deal:

The shelter is operated by the Center of Urban Community Services. The organization has run the facility, which it calls “the first ever dedicated to helping homeless NYC women suffering from mental illness to obtain permanent housing,” since 1988.

But the property’s days as a shelter appear to be numbered, with an RKF listing indicating the space is available for a “single tenant” retail opportunity in the third quarter of this year.

The 15,000-square-foot building is in the Noho Historic District.

Rosen is also the new owner of 190 Bowery. Perhaps there will be an art show here too.

H/T Curbed

1 year after closing, the Rodeo Bar space remains vacant on 3rd Avenue

Stepping away from the East Village for a moment… As we first reported last summer, the Rodeo bar — billed as "NYC’s longest running honky-tonk" — closed for good at the end of July after 27 years in business.

Now one year later, the storefront at 375 Third Ave. and East 27th Street remains empty. The asking rent is $58,333 per month.

In a message on Facebook, the owners said that recent rent increases, "combined with a changing landscape, have made it impossible for us continue."

Zoltar sees a future without graffiti (at least for the next few days)

Over outside the Gem Spa on Second Avenue and St. Mark's Place, Zoltar is receiving a summer scrubbing….

As these photos via EVG reader Lola Sáenz show, a worker is removing the various tags that well-wishers have left on Zoltar's home of nearly three years…





Now if someone will please just return his crystal ball.

Avenue C subbing for Downtown Brooklyn today

Earlier today, EVG reader David G. noted the arrival of a new subway stop on Avenue C and East Second Street… site of the last gas station in the East Village.

Alas, just a tease prop from the crew of the CBS police drama "Blue Bloods," which is filming around here today.

The stop is for the 2,3,4 and 5 … the station is marked Nevins Street Station. After today's shoot, the station will be closed indefinitely for track work.

[Updated] The NYPD removes the patrol tower from Tompkins Square Park

Not sure when it happened… but as of around 9 a.m., the tower is no longer in the Park.



It first arrived last Tuesday.

Photos via EVG correspondent Steven.

Previously on EV Grieve:
NYPD installs patrol tower in the middle of Tompkins Square Park (149 comments)

The Post reports Tompkins Square Park 'has become a homeless haven' (113 comments)

Observer editors write, 'it's time to take back Tompkins Square Park' (49 comments)

Petition asks Mayor de Blasio to remove the Skywatch tower from Tompkins Square Park

Parts of Avenue C and D now with a SkyWatch tower, additional NYPD lights

[Updated] NYPD patrol tower arrives on Avenue D

Flyers urge removal of patrol tower in Tompkins Square Park

Updated 12:42

The Post spoke with some people in the Park about the Tower's removal.

“I don’t love seeing it here,” said Paul Engler, a 58-year-old business owner. “I think the police were doing their very best to make sure things stayed on the level, but I’d rather see cops walking around the park. That gives people access to them.”

And…

“I didn’t give a f–k it was here and I don’t give a f–k it’s gone. It didn’t change a thing in this park. It didn’t slow nobody’s roll,” a homeless person said Tuesday. “It was all a show to make people think they were doing something. The same people they put that show on for didn’t like. They didn’t like to see that when they’re paying all that money to live here. So now it’s gone.”

Exclusive: After 40 years, punk rock mainstay Trash and Vaudeville is leaving St. Mark's Place

Late last week we started hearing rumors that Trash and Vaudeville was leaving its home of 40 years at 4 St. Mark's Place.

Store owner Ray Goodman confirmed the move yesterday, telling us that if all goes well, Trash and Vaudeville will be selling its rock 'n' roll fashions and accessories from its new space at 96 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue early this fall.


[96 E. 7th St., site of the new Trash & Vaudeville]

"I love St. Mark's Place. There's no doubt it. There's something magical about it. This just isn't any block," Goodman told us on the phone. "The decision wasn't something that I took lightly. From a business perspective, we saw a shift in the clientele. The block is not as conducive for fashion shopping as it once was. Now it seems as if it's all food — fast food — and bongs. Even stores that aren't bong stores sell bongs."

He said that the changing business environment on the block between Second Avenue and Third Avenue was just one of many factors that played into the decision to relocate.

"The retail world is so different today," he said. "So much of it is done online."

And increasing rents are always a culprit.

"The rent is creeping up," said Goodman, who is a minority partner in the ownership of the historic Hamilton-Holly House at 4 St. Mark's Place. "Rent was a factor, but it wasn't the sole reason."

It also didn't help that the block will likely see protracted construction in the years ahead. For starters, the owners of the St. Marks Hotel directly next door filed plans late last fall to add six additional floors to the existing structure at 2 St. Mark’s Place and Third Avenue.

"I'll be in the middle of a construction zone for the next five years," said Goodman, who figures the Trash and Vaudeville storefront would be covered by a sidewalk bridge throughout the duration of the project. "Business is tough enough."

In addition, directly across the street, The Real Deal reported that real-estate investor Arthur Shapolsky is in contract to buy three properties at the corner of Third Avenue and St. Mark's Place: 23 Third Ave., 27 Third Ave. and 3 St. Mark's Place for some unspecified new development.

And there's just the history. "It has been 40 years. Maybe it is time to do a little facelift. Just try it," he said. "I wanted to make it to the 40th year. We made that."

During the heyday of punk, everyone from the Ramones to the Dead Boys did their shopping at Trash and Vaudeville.

"Me and Dee Dee would go there and try out the display clothing," Marky Ramone told The New York Times in 2013. "Joey had a problem finding pants to fit him and would always buy them there. He was 6-foot-5 ½ with a 36-inch waist."


[Photo from 1980 by Michael Sean Edwards]

Goodman believes that the block housing the new Trash and Vaudeville has a better retail variety. He cited the array of restaurants, as well as Big Gay Ice Cream, and shops such as Turntable Lab and Village Style, the vintage and consignment shop.

The new Trash & Vaudeville will incorporate three spaces at No. 96. (The address was previously home to Salon V and Angelo Lambrou's custom bridal gown boutique, both of which relocated to other parts of the city.) Overall the new storefront will have less space than on St. Mark's Place.

As for the business future of St. Mark's, he recalls opening the shop in 1975. "There were a ton of stores for rent," he said. "St. Mark's Place has always been a bit of a roller-coaster. I think it could come back with the right mix of retail."

Despite the relocation, Goodman, who lives on St. Mark's Place, hasn't given up on the neighborhood. He said that he looked into other areas to move the store, but nothing felt right.

"We're still in our natural environment. We're just a little further east," Goodman said of the new location, adding, "I love the East Village."

The Stop the Noise sticker campaign on East 10th Street takes a new approach

On and off in the past few years (dating to June 2010), we've spotted stop the rooftop noise stickers and flyers along East 10th Street between Fourth Avenue and Third Avenue.

We noticed more in recent weeks… as always, pointing to presumably loud activity atop 84 E. 10th St. …



Now, the stickers have a new message...



There will likely be a different kind of noise around here soon enough. New building applications were recently filed for a 10-story, eight-unit building at the long-empty corner space on Fourth Avenue and East 10th Street.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Another flyer campaign to 'stop the rooftop noise' at 84 E. 10th St.

Penthouse comes into view at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

Apparently there will be a penthouse at 319 Bowery after all. Landlord Steve Croman received DOB approval last September to convert the former Amato Opera house between East First Street and East Second Street into a commercial and residential building.

The original plans showed three residential units above the ground-floor retail space, with a penthouse level. The approved permits that we saw later didn't list a penthouse level…



However, there is an amended permit dated July 8 that includes a penthouse, part of the fourth floor apartment.

In any event, you can now see this top level from the street…



In January 2009, Anthony Amato, the company's 88-year-old founder, announced that he had sold the building that the Opera had called home since 1964. The company closed in May 2009. Amato died in December 2011.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Life after the Amato Opera

Costume drama on the Bowery as the Amato Opera empties out

Ruin of the Bowery nearly complete: Last season for the Amato Opera

Amato Opera looks to be getting an encore as city OKs residential use

Work permits arrive at the former Amato Opera on the Bowery

Chase space on 2nd Avenue and St. Mark's Place is for rent

The retail space that is currently home to a Chase branch at 130 Second Ave. is on the market, available starting in January, according to a listing at Icon Realty.

Here are a few details from the listing:

130 2nd ave resides on St. Mark Place [sic] which is defined by a perpetual eclecticism born from an ever-evolving New York City and its mixing of the pop- and counter-culture movements. Dominated by pedestrians and boasting a lively, approachable and socialable sensibility.

-Prime East Village Corner Commercial Space on Second Avenue and St. Marks Place Accepting Offers for: General Retail Use, Restaurants/Bar, Office Space, Gyms/Fitness Centers
-New elevators will be installed and space will be delivered as a white box with a new all glass store front

And the asking rent? "$875,000 Per Annum." (Good for a mere $72,000 a month.)

Perhaps Chase figures they can do without this location… especially since there's another Chase branch two blocks to the north at East 10th Street.

And it appears that Chase is downsizing. There's a for rent sign above the Chase branch on Avenue A and East Second Street, as we noted last month.



This space is also available starting in January, according to the listing.

Bed-Stuy is the new East Village

Well, at least according to this listing at Craigslist…



Per the ad:

BedSty is new East Village but with out east Village price tag.
Perfect share for students, young professionals welcome.
Bring your cats and dogs with you.

The three-bedroom apartment is asking $2,500.

You will likely have to invest in a toilet-paper holder, though.

XYZ puts up its letters on East 7th Street

The signage has arrived for the new cafe opening at 102 E. Seventh St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

XYZ will be serving "Spanish-influenced food," according to documents (PDF!) filed at the CB3 website for this month's SLA committee meeting. (This item for a new beer-wine license was not heard at the meeting.)

XYZ will be serving food daily from 7 a.m. to midnight. The proprietors previously ran Pintxos over on Greenwich Street. New York magazine gave that cafe high marks:

One of Europe's oldest cuisines, Basque, has a toehold on the west side. Though its roots lie in the Pyrenees, here it's surrounded by high rises in the form of nearby condominium building sites. But barring the occasional construction noise, this restaurant manages to feel unruffled and intimate. A husband-and-wife team serves not only in the namesake pintxos, the Basque equivalent of tapas, but also full-sized entrées. Simple dishes deploy characteristic Basque ingredients — seafood, peppers, pork—to great effect.

The previous tenant here, Tink's Cafe, closed in early June.

[Updated] Tokio 7 hasn't been open lately

Earlier last week an EVG reader stopped by the consignment shop at 83 E. Seventh St. near First Avenue … and was surprised to find the gate down… Tokio 7 remained closed through the weekend… and there isn't any note on the gate or inside noting a summer break. Calls to the store go unanswered.

Tokio 7 moved here (the former Seventh Street tumor) from across the street in 2010.

Updated:

The store is back open after a short holiday...

Ashiya Sushi has moved away from the East Village

The restaurant at 167 First Ave. has relocated to West 36th Street, per the sign on the door here between East 10th Street and East 11th Street...



And I've lost track of the various restaurants here since the faux-retro Bendix Diner closed in____?


[Photo from 1997 by Dave Buchwald]

Making way for Ben Shaoul's new retail-residential complex on East Houston

The demolition of the one-level row (except for Katz's!) of storefronts along East Houston between Ludlow and Orchard started back in early May, as BoweryBoogie first noted.

We were walking by the other day and checked in on the progress…





And EVG favorite Bereket remains in ruins…



As previously reported, workers are clearing all this out to make way for Ben Shaoul's 10-story residential building that will include an Equinox gym.

And it will look something like this…

A note about some old lady who rammed your car

Spotted on East Fourth Street tonight:

"Some old lady rammed your car multiple times trying to park in front of you at 7:05 p.m. …"

The note's author didn't catch the license number, but suggests watching traffic cam footage to find the culprit.

Photo by Derek Berg

Noted

Strange East Village sighting of the day: Woman picks up disgusting smushed pigeon out of the gutter and carries it several blocks. Not sure how this turned out. #dinner? #eastvillage #dontwanttoknow

A photo posted by Academy Records NYC (@academyrecords) on Jul 26, 2015 at 2:27pm PDT

Week in Grieview

[Photo from Tompkins Square Park yesterday by Bobby Williams]

RIP Charlie Romonofsky (Tuesday)

Groundbreaking on East 13th Street for the Bea Arthur Residence for homeless LGBT youth (Monday)

How Grace Farrell came to die outside St. Brigid's in February 2011 (Friday)

Here's the lineup for the 3rd annual MoRUS film festival (Wednesday)

Report: Bystander shot in foot during argument on Avenue D (Thursday)

East Village Spice back open on First Avenue (Friday)

NYPD rescues dog locked in car on Avenue B (Monday)

Hello Good Night Sonny (Monday)

Keeping up with Christo and Dora's new offspring (Friday)

Openings: Turntable Retro Bar & Restaurant on Avenue B (Tuesday)

In the case that you are just being an ass about the buzzers (Wednesday)

Paperwork filed to renovate Peter Brant's gallery space on East Sixth Street (Monday)

More about Bruno Pizza (Tuesday)

Blockheads opens (Wednesday)

Because we haven't posted anything about the incoming Black Seed bagels in more than two months (Thursday)

Ben Shaoul sells 31-33 2nd Ave. for $29 million (Thursday)

Former froyo spot will become body waxing center on 2nd Avenue, just because (Friday)

133 Avenue D is for sale (again) (Wednesday)

The former Contrada space is for rent (Thursday)

Summer Streets start next Saturday (Saturday)

First sign of the incoming CVS at 51 Astor Place (Friday)

Revisiting King Tut’s Wah-Wah Hut (Wednesday)

Continued dewatering at Ben Shaoul's 98-100 Avenue A prompts visit by the FDNY (Thursday)

Dunkin' Donuts moving into the Jefferson's retail space (Tuesday)

And in Tompkins Square Park: The NYPD patrol tower arrives (Tuesday, 149 comments) … prompting a fake Twitter account (Thursday) … a call for the tower's removal via an online petition (Thursday) … a flyer campaign (Sunday) … and a sleepover for Aug. 7-9 (Friday) … the tower also provided a backdrop for campgoers to discuss justice (Friday, 58 comments)

And in conclusion, some equal time for the candidates … spotted on East Houston (and elsewhere) …


[Art by Ivan Orama]

Check out the Little Free Library

At the Green Oasis Community Garden on East Eighth Street between Avenue C and Avenue D. Check out the garden's website for history and other info.

Photo yesterday by George Cohen.

Flyers urge removal of patrol tower in Tompkins Square Park

[Click on image for a better read]

Someone has posted these flyers… asking residents to call the 9th Precinct and politely insist that the NYPD "remove the ridiculous and unnecessary guard tower from the center of Tompkins Square Park" ...



Per the flyer's author:

When I spoke with Sgt. Wahlig on 07.22.15 at 11:33 AM, he could not answer. Instead, he bumblingly referred to the recent NY Post and Observer articles as evidence that the guard tower and patrol are needed. He also told me that since I am a parent, I should be glad that the guard tower is there, and that I should feel safer!! HA HA HA HA!!

The tower arrived in the Park on Tuesday. There is already an online petition asking Mayor de Blasio to remove the Skywatch tower.

Meanwhile, in other tower-related activities… concertgoers yesterday reported seeing a drone nearby …


[Photo via EVG correspondent Steven]

There was a report of a food delivery on Friday afternoon…


[Photo via an EVG reader]

… and EVG reader George Cohen tells us that a patrol tower has been parked at Avenue D and East Eight Street for the past month or so…





Previously on EV Grieve:
NYPD installs patrol tower in the middle of Tompkins Square Park (149 comments)

The Post reports Tompkins Square Park 'has become a homeless haven' (113 comments)

Observer editors write, 'it's time to take back Tompkins Square Park' (49 comments)

Petition asks Mayor de Blasio to remove the Skywatch tower from Tompkins Square Park

Parts of Avenue C and D now with a SkyWatch tower, additional NYPD lights

[Updated] NYPD patrol tower arrives on Avenue D