Gil S.
Yelp
A friendly little package market in the Theater District run by a family of white-haired Mediterraneans. Good selection of the usual things -- liquor, sodas, cans, supplies. Plus an appealing selection of produce. I come for anchovies and lemons on ceasar salad day. There aren't any prices, they just make it up at the register. I often comparison shop, holding up products and yelling across the aisle, "How much is this one?"
I recently had to mediate a communication breakdown between an owner and a punk-ass but beautiful girl who had wandered down from an apartment next door in her sweats to buy some lottery tickets for her boyfriend's birthday. The old man knew her by name, smiled in a warm Greek kind of way. She asked if there was anything else to give him.
"Only candles," he said.
"Condoms?"
"Candles."
"Condoms?" Her jewelry-studded lips formed a quizzical expression that told me she was beginning to have doubts as to just how nice a man this was.
"Candles," he said. "Candles."
"Candles," I said, and she understood.
She glanced over the red Mexican prayer candle that said happy birthday on it. No thanks.
I hope her boyfriend enjoyed the lottery tickets.