Caliope Bookstore owner Ceasar Gonzalez has been evicted from his Dyckman Street location, but he's trying to raise money to pay off the $36,000 he owes to the landlord - Fireside Pentecostal Assembly on Thayer Street.

"Last year I made an agreement with the landlord," Gonzalez said. On top of his $4,000 rent, he would add $2,000 to pay the back rent he owed then.

"Having to pay rent plus 50-percent extra is no piece of cake," Gonzalez said.

"I fell behind again."

City Marshals seized the property on June 2, evicting Gonzalez as he traveled downtown to speak to a judge about remaining in the store.

A meeting is scheduled with the landlord, but in the meantime Gonzalez stands outside of the Dyckman Street location from 2-7 p.m. selling the raffle tickets. Gonzaelz said he has received support from Council Miguel Martinez and Lilliam Perez from State Senator Eric Schneiderman's office, as well as from the Audubon Partnership for Economic Development.

The drawing for the raffle is on Sun., July 12. First prize is two tickets to anywhere in Latin America, donated by a local travel agency, and second prize is a set of Spanish Encyclopedias from the store.

Despite the financial trouble he is in, he feels the store could be profitable.

"I had a lot of outstanding commitments," Gonzalez said, which he has resolved. There is still a market, he added.

"The Hispanic population here is huge."

The Manhattan Times is the bilingual newspaper of Washington Heights and Inwood.