Is The Health Department Being Too Hard On Ray's Candy Store?

The Health Department isn't playing with poor old Ray Alvarez, whose eponymous Candy Store has been an Avenue A institution for generations. The indispensable East Village photographer Bob Arihood has the latest update on the beleaguered snack shop, which has been paid four visits from Health inspectors this week. The shop was initially shut down by the DOH on Monday after racking up 53 violation points and the discovery of an "extensive mice infestation." Arihood reports that the latest inspection produced even more violations than the first inspection, and he thinks the city is coming down too hard on the Candy Store.

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 . This is not the way of responsible, accountable, good and just government Mr. Mayor!
We've noticed that for each inspection there is always a different inspector. We would expect that each inspector would see the situation a bit differently, find different violations, and as we all know there's always something... right? If more different inspectors, who are each of course motivated to find violations, come to Ray's more of those somethings will be found , arbitrarily new violations will be found . This inquisition could go on forever and Ray's Candy Store will never open.

As we've seen this week, when it rains it pours. Arihood says there will be another inspection today, and hopefully Alvarez will have everything in order. A team of supporters have been thoroughly cleaning the establishment, and yesterday Alvarez told us an exterminator had been down in the basement and gotten the infestation under control. He'll be inspected again at noon, and we called him just now he said, "I'm vacuuming and I have to run to get the place ready." Break a leg, Ray... or break some mice legs maybe.

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By John Del Signore in Food on May 20, 2011 12:12 PM

Comments [rss]

pr3t3nd3r

We've noticed that for each inspection there is always a different inspector. We would expect that each inspector would see the situation a bit differently...
...so one inspector sees "extensive mice infestation" and another inspector sees what? chocolate sprinkles?

dogbertt

Can this guy even blow his nose properly, much less give a courtesy wipe? F8ck me, if this is what you New Yorkers praise as "local, mom and pop stores", give me an "A" graded Starbucks anyday.

randomtransplant

I just wrote a 3 paragraph comment into the wrong article's comment section. Go me.

randomtransplant

My lady will freak out and clean entire rooms of the house @ 2 am if she sees a spider....but NOT going to Rays if we happen to walk by after midnight could never, ever happen.

I don't know how I feel about this whole mess, but I hope he passes his inspections and gets back on his feet....so he can go on working himself to the bone until they day he dies, though?

Ugh. The man needs to retire & let someone else take over the nightly business. If only money grew on trees.

Dirk

I'm sure photos of a burlesque dancer doing a strip tease on the counter didn't help things.

But seriously. I love mom and pop businesses, but they have to follow the rules like everyone else. A mice infestation at Rays or at Outback Steakhouse is still gross either way.

virgilstarkwell

if the olive garden had half the violations this place had, people would be justifiably disgusted. just because this guy puts the pop in mom and pop, it doesn't mean that the laws of common sense get thrown out the window.... nor does it mean the big, bad city is coming down hard on this poor, pitiful soul.

i'd like to see where all his loyalists would be if he tripled his prices to cover the cost of his rent and keeping the place clean.

Guest

BTW, I don't think those are sprinkles on the ice cream he's holding.

virgilstarkwell

"We've noticed that for each inspection there is always a different inspector. We would expect that each inspector would see the situation a bit differently, find different violations, and as we all know there's always something... right? If more different inspectors, who are each of course motivated to find violations, come to Ray's more of those somethings will be found , arbitrarily new violations will be found . This inquisition could go on forever and Ray's Candy Store will never open."

and if was the same inspector time after time, people would either think the guy had a personal vendetta against 'poor old ray' or that he was looking for a bribe.

having a different inspector visit on different days serves as a check to make sure the system is working as well as can be expected. assuming that it automatically means that they're out to get this guy and that it's an 'inquisition' is just being reactionary and cliched.

Guest

Extensive. Mice. Infestation. Why is this even being argued? Sounds like your pal is a freaking slob.

Bugenhagen

Anyone who has been in business as long as Ray has should know by now how to handle DOH inspectors. Defying a correction order and reopening right after they leave is a stupid, rookie move. Now, unfortunately, he's paying the price.