The saga of DOH-shuttered East Village stalwart Ray's Candy Store continues today, with owner Ray Alvarez saying he's brought in exterminators to rid his Avenue A storefront of the "extensive mice infestation" that led to its closure and a promise to prove to the Health Department that he's cleaning up his act.
Alvarez, who is 78, told us that some friends from the neighborhood have been at his store until 4 a.m. for the past few nights, helping him clean, and that right this very second, he has an exterminator in the basement, "doing some work about the mice, putting down traps and glue." Alvarez also told us that he plans to take the receipts from the exterminator's visit straight to the Health Department officials, to "prove that [the exterminator] was here," because "the Health guys won't take my word for it."
The move comes after Ray's was shuttered earlier this week for racking up 53 violation points during an inspection, and then got into even hotter water the next day when Ray refused to actually shutter. He's hoping now to be back officially back in business by next week, but says, "I have a lot bills and no money coming in. People are nice to me, but I have to support myself and take of my business. All night and day I'm cleaning, but I don't get much sleep, what can I do?" As for what you can do if you're so inclined, show some support with these timely "Save Ray's" t-shirts.
