"When Ray Alvarez (born Asghar Ghahraman) bought this East Village candy store in 1974, it was already a venerable Tompkins Square institution. Gradually it became more of a junk-food deli and soda fountain, turning out egg creams and french fries, but the candy bar component persists, and so do candy-shop products like deep-fried Oreos." - Robert Sietsema
Robert Sietsema/Eater NY