On Tuesday night, the sidewalk outside Madison Square Garden was crowded with Knicks jerseys and concert t-shirts. Among the food vendors lined up on Eighth Avenue, one man drew steady business with trays of homemade baklava.
Ron Donk, known to regulars as 'the Baklava Guy,' has been selling his pistachio-heavy pastries at city parks and major gatherings since early spring. His operation is simple: a folding table, a handwritten sign, and foil-wrapped wedges stacked in a cooler. Each piece sells for $5, cash or Venmo.
Donk said he started appearing outside the Garden during the Knicks playoff run in May. On game nights, he arrives before tipoff and stays until the last crowds clear out, usually well past 11 p.m. He sources his phyllo and nuts from Brooklyn wholesalers and bakes in a shared commercial kitchen in Astoria.
His customer base is a mix of basketball fans, concertgoers, and the street vendors who work alongside him. On Monday, a security guard on break called the baklava 'better than most bakeries.' Donk also follows music events, selling outside Phish shows and summer festivals.
He says the late-night summer energy near Penn Station has been good for business. 'People want something sweet after the game,' Donk said. He plans to keep the table out on big event nights through the end of the season.