How delicious it is!
Favored East Village landmark Ray’s Candy Store was saved from closing when its 89-year-old owner fell behind on his payments, owing to roughly $50,000 in donations from his customers with a sweet craving, according to Side Dish.
Ray Alvarez has been selling egg creams and fried Oreos to clients such as Bruce Willis, Madonna, Kim Kardashian, local police officers, and youngsters for 49 years.
Even during the historic Tompkins Square Park riots of 1988, he kept the doors open, claiming that the “combatants” were his clients.
However, Alvarez suffered first from the outbreak and subsequently from inflation. The invoices began to pile up, one of which was $18,000 from ConEd.
Alvarez informed Side Dish that his expenses for cooking oil, potatoes, and electricity had all increased.
The rent is also pricey, he informs Side Dish, while his residential rent is approximately $564 per month (he lives above the business).
“Rent is lethal. In 1974, I paid $125 per month; today, I pay $6,185 per month. After paying my rent and power bill, I had no money left for my health,” Alvarez stated.
Nicolas Heller, a 33-year-old Williamsburg resident who has frequented the business since he was a youngster, exclaims, “Everyone adores Ray.”
Gregory P. Mango
He borrowed $10,000 from two sisters who work for him and are aged 74 and 64. After exhausting that amount, Alvarez borrowed $1,000 from a friend. But when Alvarez needed more money, his next friend stated he couldn’t lend him any, but he could set up a GoFundMe page. The pal has asked to remain anonymous.
The target amount was $19,740. Instead, it raised $48,986 – in one week, Alvarez claimed.
Since he was a youngster, Nicolas Heller, a 33-year-old Williamsburg resident, has frequented the shop at 113 Avenue A near Tompkins Square Park, mostly for the ice cream.
“He was a permanent fixture. Since I can remember, Ray has been this elderly man laboring in the small hours of the night to keep the lights on at his company.
Heller wrote about Alvarez’s struggle and the GoFundMe campaign on “New York Nico,” an Instagram account with one million followers that highlights the city and its inhabitants.
The contributions and tributes poured in.
A single donor gave $2,000. Another donor contributed $10 and wrote, “Ray, you’re an East Village icon!” Thank you so much for the decades of happiness you’ve offered to tens of thousands of people and for your dedication to your community. We adore you.
“Rent is a killer,” Alvarez adds. In 1974, I paid $125 per month, but now I pay $6,185 per month.
Gregory P. Mango
Alvarez holds his famous egg cream drink.
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Inside the business is an antique cash register.
Gregory P. Mango
We’ll always be here for you, Ray, just as you’ve always been there for us. Happy early birthday!
In the early 1960s, Alvarez, born Asghar Ghahraman, was a young Iranian naval sailor who physically jumped ship in America. The death sentence applied to deserters. Before earning American citizenship in 2011, he lived as an illegal immigrant for close to 50 years. In 2018, he was the subject of a documentary by fellow Iranian-born director Aryeh Ghavamian.
Alvarez hopes to keep Ray’s open indefinitely, continuing to work 20-hour days, seven days a week, thanks to the GoFundMe effort. He frequently works midnight shifts and is frequently seen napping in the rear.
Alvarez states that he intends to keep Ray’s open indefinitely, working 20-hour days, seven days a week.
Gregory P. Mango
“People assist me. “Sometimes they purchase one egg cream, hand me $100, and tell me to keep the change,” he explained.
Since 1978, Laura Stassberger, age 64, has frequented Ray’s for “the ice cream and shakes.” She works as a companion and recently visited 81-year-old retired journalist Orin Soloway.
“I’ve been going here since my early twenties. I admire Ray. I enjoy when he tells me he loves me as much as I enjoy his egg creams. Strassberger stated with a smile, “Today, however, he simply had affection for Orin and offered her free ice cream. “Ray’s serves the greatest egg creams in the area and is a neighborhood mainstay. I’d be sad to see it disappear.”
Alvarez stated he had no intention of selling the shop, despite turning 90 in January.
“Only a few individuals are interested in purchasing it, but it is my lifeblood. The candy store keeps me life, and if I sell it, I shall perish. I do not wish to watch television at home. My existence is dependent on the candy store,” he stated. “If I sell my candy store, I will die the following day since it is my life. Everyone recognizes me and stops by to say hi and discuss music, but if I sell, I will be alone, by myself.”
Alvarez’s distinctive gesture consists of smiling and shouting “I love you!” out of the store’s window to passing customers.
Since 1969, the feeling has been reciprocal.
Hoda Kotb, Jenna Bush Hager, Savannah Guthrie, and Stephanie Ruhle at the 35th annual power lunch hosted by Citymeals.
Last week, Citymeals on Wheels raised $3.7 million during its 35th annual power lunch at the Plaza Hotel, including a $2.5 million bequest from the estate of a deceased donor.
Those in attendance, who included Citymeals volunteers Jenna Bush Hager and her twin sister Barbara Pierce Bush, shed many tears throughout the event – the first since the November demise of its iconic creator, restaurant critic Gael Greene.
“Gael has a larger-than-life presence. She was terribly missed,” said Penny Glazier, a restaurateur who has attended the event since 1992.
Attendees included Citymeals executive director Beth Shapiro, MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle, Daniel and Katherine Boulud, Sienna Miller, Deborah Roberts, Savannah Guthrie, and Liz and Jonathan Tisch.
Since its inception, Citymeals has delivered more than 67 million meals, making it the nation’s biggest nonprofit meals-on-wheels program. One in ten New Yorkers aged 60 and above are food insecure. About 14% of Citymeals clients rely only on the organization’s daily delivery of a single meal.