Wishing Ray Alvarez, the owner of Ray’s Candy Store, a very happy 85th birthday 🎂!

This East Village institution located directly across the street from Tompkins Square Park has been in business 24 hours a day since 1974. When we took this photo and interviewed Ray for our book “Store Front II-A History Preserved” he told us that “I was working behind the counter when there was the tent ⛺️ city at the park and even stayed open during the famous riot in 1988 and many of the protesters were my regulars.” Ray and @rayscandystore definitely has seen the neighborhood surrounding it change dramatically and we are happy to report that it is still going strong 💪!