At 91, Ray Alvarez still works the graveyard shift at his 24/7 bodega in the East Village. Photographer Whitney Browne provides a behind-the-counter peek at the public yet intimate workings of Ray’s Candy Store in the early hours, where people seek out fried treats and late-night company. Candid moments and fleeting connections come to life in this collection of film photography. As New York’s community of independent, owner-operated storefronts continues to dwindle, Browne’s work reminds us to take a look around and appreciate what we have.
