Ray's Candy Store facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ray's Candy Store

Ray's Candy Store storefront, circa June 2019.
Type	Private
Industry	Deli
Founded	1974
Founder	Ray Alvarez
Headquarters	113 Avenue A, East Village, Manhattan
Area served	New York City, New York, U.S.
Key people	Ray Alvarez

Ray's Candy Store is a famous deli located at 113 Avenue A in the East Village, a lively neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City. This special store first opened its doors in 1974.

It is run by Ray Alvarez, who is the owner. The store offers a fun mix of foods. You can find unique items like egg creams, soft serve ice cream, frozen yogurt, New Orleans style beignets, and Belgian fries. Ray's Candy Store has even been featured in books, movies, and TV shows. It's also known for its yearly "Birthday Burlesque Extravaganza," a surprise party for Ray!

The Story of Ray's Candy Store

Ray Alvarez was born in Iran on January 1, 1933. He moved to New York in 1964. For ten years, he worked as a dishwasher. In 1974, he bought the candy store for $30,000.

Staying Open During a Riot

On August 6, 1988, a big event happened near the store. It was called the Tompkins Square Park Riot. Police and protestors clashed over a new park curfew. Ray's Candy Store is right across from the park. Ray kept his store open during the whole riot. He said he stayed open because "all the combatants were his customers."

A Famous Kidnapping Near the Store

On June 19, 1992, something dramatic happened outside the store. Curtis Sliwa, who started the Guardian Angels group, was kidnapped. Two gunmen shot him after he got into a stolen taxi. This event took place right outside Ray's Candy Store.

Saving Ray's Candy Store

In early 2010, Ray's Candy Store had trouble paying its rent. The store was at risk of closing down. Many news outlets reported on the situation. Friends, neighbors, and customers quickly came to help Ray. They held fundraisers and started social media campaigns. This big show of support helped save the beloved business.

Ray Becomes a U.S. Citizen

In July 2011, Ray finally became a U.S. citizen. His real name is Asghar Ghahraman. Years before, he had left the Iranian Navy. He worried about his legal status in the U.S. So, he decided to use a new name, Ray Alvarez, and pretended to be Puerto Rican.

Ray eventually received amnesty under President Reagan. But, his green card was sent to the wrong address. This left him in a difficult legal situation. Without the right papers, becoming a citizen was very hard. With help from friends, Ray, who was 78 at the time, finally qualified. He was so happy to become an American citizen.

Remembering a Friend

Robert "Bob" Arihood was a New York photographer. He often took pictures outside Ray's Candy Store. He showed Ray and his store on his blog, Neither more nor less. After Bob passed away in October 2011, Ray honored him. Bob's name was temporarily placed on the sign of Ray's Candy Store.

Awards and Recognition

Ray's Candy Store has received several awards.

• In August 2015, it was named "Business of the Month" by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.
• In November 2016, it won "Best Restaurant" in the East Village. This was part of the first Time Out New York Love New York Awards.
• In 2020, the store received a "Village Award." This award recognizes places that improve life in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo.

Ray's Annual Birthday Party

Since 2007, Ray's friends and employees have thrown him a yearly birthday party. It usually features local burlesque dancers. This party is by invitation only and is a surprise for Ray. Local media often cover the event. The staff jokingly call it "THE BEST TRADITION IN NEW YORK CITY™."

Ray's Candy Store in Media

Ray's Candy Store has appeared in many movies, TV shows, and books.

Movies Featuring Ray's

Owner Ray Alvarez, sitting behind the counter of the store.

• In the 1993 movie What About Me, actors order milkshakes from the store's to-go window. You can hear Ray Alvarez's voice taking their order.
• The outside of Ray's Candy Store was shown in the 1995 action movie Die Hard with a Vengeance. This scene was filmed near Tompkins Square Park.

TV Shows Featuring Ray's

• In July 2010, Ray was on a Fox News special. It was hosted by John Stossel and called "What's Great about America."
• In November 2011, Ray's Candy Store was featured in an episode of the HBO show How to Make It in America. The episode was called "The Friction." Actors Bryan Greenberg and Victor Rasuk met there to talk business. A "Save Ray's Candy Store" poster was visible in the background.
• In 2014, Ray and his store appeared in a Vice Media documentary web series. It was called That's Delicious and starred rapper Action Bronson.
• In November 2018, Ray's Candy Store was in the final episode of CNN's Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. The episode, "Lower East Side," showed Anthony Bourdain and musician Harley Flanagan visiting Ray. They chatted with Ray and tried his famous egg creams. Bourdain said, "That is a superb egg cream."

Books Mentioning Ray's

• In the 1997 book New York Eats (More) by Ed Levine, Ray's Candy Store is highlighted for its egg cream. The egg cream is also discussed in Jews of Brooklyn (2002) by Ilana Abramovitch and Seán Galvin.
• In 2015, Ray's Candy Store was in James and Karla Murray's book Store Front II: A History Preserved. This book shows historical businesses in New York City.
• In 2018, the store was mentioned in William B. Helmreich's book The Manhattan Nobody Knows: An Urban Walking Guide.

Music Inspired by Ray's

• The song "Lilly's Treat" by the band Team Spider mentions Ray, Avenue A, and his famous egg creams. This song is from their 2002 album "Summertime in the City."
• In 2017, Ray and his store were in the music video for "Meet Me at the End of the World." This song is by rock musician Jesse Malin.

Gallery

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  Ray Alvarez, the operator

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  Alvarez showing off his new crepe machine in 2011

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  Outside of Ray's Candy Store