NYC's Potato Peeler Grafter Dead

Joe Ades used to sell potato-peelers at Union Square. He died at the age of 73 on Sunday. The man's Manchester accent and grafter's sales pitches were mesmerizing and I have stood, listening and admiring his technique on many occasions whenever I would encounter him. He would sell on the edge of the veg market without a license, and he was sometimes chased away by security guards. He sold at other locations at Herlad Square, Radio city and in Brooklyn. He lived in a posh apartment on the Upper East Side with his wife, until she died last year. He was a salesman his whole life and had four wives throughout.