Iconic Piece Of ‘Sopranos’ Memorabilia For Sale In Bloomfield

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — A classic piece of television history is for sale in New Jersey: the booth where Tony Soprano was whacked.

Any fan of “The Sopranos” – which frequently filmed in Essex County – will have plenty to say when you ask them about the series finale and its infamous “cut to black” scene, which many viewers speculated was the off-screen death of James Gandolfini’s iconic character.

The show’s creator, David Chase, later confirmed in an interview that yes, Tony does indeed die during the scene, which was filmed at Holsten's Ice Cream, Chocolate & Restaurant on Broad Street in Bloomfield.

The popular local eatery – which has been in business for more than eight decades – has taken full advantage of the notoriety of Tony’s death scene, keeping the booth intact and installing a plaque that reads: “This Booth Reserved For The Soprano Family” (see photos of it here).

The restaurant has let its customers sit in the booth over the years, much to their delight.

• See Related: Booth Where 'Sopranos' Cut To Black Reserved in Memory of Gandolfini
• See Related: Holsten's Tribute to Gandolfini Grows as Fans Reflect on His 'Legacy'

But much like Tony’s reign atop the Jersey mob, all good things must come to an end.

On Wednesday, Holsten’s announced that it is auctioning the booth on eBay, including both seats, the table and the divider wall with the plaque. It’s a “once in a lifetime” chance for a Sopranos superfan, the restaurant says.

Here’s why they’re selling it:

“Please understand that we don't want to do this. But the integrity of the booths are now compromised. They have been repaired many times and this furniture is over 60-years-old. Obviously, we do not want to do this, however it has come to a point where they are structurally not safe anymore as a whole and we need to think about the safety of our patrons first.”

The eBay auction is scheduled to end on Monday, March 4. As of Thursday afternoon, there have been 130 bids, with the highest bid at $33,300. See the listing here.

For those worried that Holsten’s is changing its quintessential “Jersey” character, have no fear, its owners say.

“Obviously, we aren't going to change the nostalgia of our beloved shoppe … we aren't crazy!” their social media message reads. “Just polishing up the place!”

• See Related: 'Saints Of Newark' Films In Bloomfield; Sopranos Crew Back In NJ

Some fans have suggested that the restaurant donate the booth to a museum or put it up for display in a public area.

“Whatever you’re going to make off of it on eBay does not compare to how priceless this booth is,” a social media commenter said.

Whatever the fate of the infamous “Sopranos” booth, the beloved show’s many links to Essex County continue to fascinate its fans, even decades later. When the homes of major characters such as Uncle Junior, Johnny Sack – and even Tony himself – went on the market, they attracted a swarm of attention to the listings.

• See Related: House Seen On 'The Sopranos' Selling For $585K In Newark
• See Related: $1.5M For Sopranos Landmark: Johnny Sack's N.J. Home Hits Market
• See Related: Tony Soprano's House For Sale In North Caldwell

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