Yep, that’s what I’m planning now. Susie and I are flying to New Jersey for a class reunion, and I’m going to be the ultimate tourist. What I have in mind is a series of visits to key spots that were featured in the HBO television series, The Sopranos. If there’s something you think I’ve missed, let me know and it may just show up on the list.
Holsten’s Restaurant
Holsten’s is the restaurant where Tony was whacked. It’s still open. Never been there; I’ve been wanting to ever since The Sopranos hit the airwaves.
Bahr’s and the Sandy Hook Marina
Bahr’s is the outstanding seafood restaurant Tony and others mention frequently in the series, and the Sandy Hook Marina where Tony kept his boat (The Stugots) is just below it. I’ve been to both places many times, and I’m looking forward to going again.
Pizza Land
Pizza Land is the pizza place you see Tony drive by in the opening scene of every episode. It was a low revenue pizza joint before it made it into the Sopranos. It has since become a sensation. Today, they ship frozen pizzas all over the world, and it all came about because of that brief glimpse in the opening scene.
Wilson’s Carpet Store
The giant carpet guy statue is another feature seen in the opening scene of every Soprano’s episode. It’s in Jersey City, the same place that xxx gun store is located (there the guys that handle the FFL transfer for the MacManus Award 1911 every year). I’ll got a shot of the carpet guy and the gun shop.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
This is one of two churches used in the series. It’s the one Tony shows to AJ when he explains what things were like for the Italian immigrants who came to America. Like Wilson’s Carpet Store, it’s in Jersey City. My Mom grew up in Jersey City and my grandparents lived there for a while. I want to see it again; I haven’t been there in more than 60 years.
Cleveland Auto Body
This is a body shop that was run by Big Pussy Bompensiero and was taken over by his wife, Angie Bompansiero, after Big Pussy was whacked for being a rat. I understand it’s a real body shop. I want to get a photo.
Tony and Carmela’s Mansion
Yep, it’s an actual house that a couple actually lived in when The Sopranos producers spotted. They asked if they could rent the house and the rest is history.
The Rutgers Campus
Rutgers is mentioned many times in The Sopranos. In the story, Tony attended a semester and a half at Seton Hall, but in real life, James Gandolfini attended and graduated from Rutgers. So did I. I want to visit the campus again, stop in to say hi to the ROTC detachment, and shoot a few pictures.
The Paterson Falls
There are a couple of scenes filmed at the falls in Paterson, New Jersey. In one, Mikey Palmici throws a guy off a bridge. In another, Hesh threatens to do the same. I’ve never been there. I’ll fix that on this trip.
The Skyway Diner
This diner appears in several scenes, most notably with Janice Melfi (Tony’s psychiatrist) and Christopher Multisanti. We have a lot of diners in New Jersey. I’ve never been in a bad one. If it’s still in business, I’ll stop there for a cup of coffee.
Joe’s Bake Shop
This is bakery where Christopher Multisanti shoots a counter guy in the foot for slow service. I don’t now if it’s real, but if it is, I want to stop and get a pastry. I know it will be good; it’s where I grew up there are no bad bakeries in New Jersey.
Father Phil’s Church
Father Phil was a kind of a mealy-mouthed priest that Tony saw through right away. There were a few scenes filmed in that church. I’m going to stop in.
Satriale’s
Satriale’s was a fictional pork store used by Tony and his crew. It’s since been demolished and today it’s a parking lot. That’s the pork store used in the series. What you may not know is one quarter of a mile away on the same street is a real pork store that was used by the DeCavalcante crime family, the real organized crime group. If I can get a photo without getting in trouble, I’m going to.
The Bada Bing
There never was a real Bada Bing topless joint, and topless dancing is illegal in New Jersey. But The Satin Dolls in Lodi (a similar bar with a similar theme, but again, not topless) that was used for the show was real and I will stop there. I read somewhere that it had closed too, but you never know. Anything for the ExNotes blog, guys.
Never miss an ExNotes blog:
You’re going to be there for a least a week,Show some pics of that wonderful diverse area,enjoy 😊
Will do, Kenny.
Leave the gun, get the canollies…
A classic line, to be sure.
Joe, I’ve visited the Paterson Falls. It’s definitely worth your time to see it. And while in New Brunswick, take Sue to see the “passion puddle” on RU’s Cook campus, home of the “Ag” school. It’s been named one of the top 25 most romantic spots on an American college campus by College Ranker. See you at the reunion.
That’s good to know, Jeff, and as always, it’s good to hear from you.
Thanks for commenting.
Lived in Morristown for a year and was really glad to move back to California. But I love the touring with a theme concept. Post lots of pics.
Digital film is cheap, so I will.
Well the Sopranos set Italian American stereotype back 40 years.
They touched on that topic in several of the episodes.
Joe – you got to go to Asbury Park Boardwalk for the scene where Tony walks on the boardwalk . I was looking for the scene where the crooked cop & Tony are on the Rt 1 bridge over the Raritan River in Edison / Fords area (if I remember correctly). I don’t see any of the Pine Land scenes where Paulie and Michael are trying to shoot a guy, but he gets away leaving Paulie and Michael out in the cold. I think that was the way it went.
All and all the Sopranos was a GREAT show and there will never be another like it!
On the list, amigo. I am looking forward to this trip.
Where did you get that picture of Tony’s driver license in the opening picture – that’s a GREAT picture?
My buddy Mike was a police officer in New Brunswick. He pulled Tony over for driving erratically and let him off with a warning in order to get this photo.
Being from PA. It’s always nice to return to the scene of the crime every once in a while.
Indeed, it is, my friend. Indeed it is.
Asbury Park boardwalk is a must. It has changed immeasurably for the better since the windswept episodes they filmed there, but it is the shore in a nutshell. I’d add the Pine Barrens, but the Russian guys are still out there…too dangerous!
It’s been added to the list, Andrew. Thank you for the suggestion.
Great idea out west here in Albuquerque NM we have a “Breaking Bad” tour in a replica Winebago to all the locations used.
Splendid concept and another wonderful series. Cranston is a marvelous actor.