BLOOMFIELD, N.J. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — The owners of the New Jersey restaurant containing the iconic booth featured in the final scene of the award-winning television series “The Sopranos” have put it up for auction, and bidders have until 10 p.m. on Monday to acquire the piece of television history.
Holsten’s in Bloomfield, which describes itself as an “old fashioned ice cream parlor,” announced the online auction on Thursday. As of Friday night, the highest bidder offered $71,100 on the ebay listing.
Tony Soprano and his family sit in the booth in the final minutes of HBO’s iconic series, and the booth has drawn fans of the show to Holsten’s to take pictures and reminisce on one of HBO’s most successful projects.
“The Sopranos” concluded in June 2007 after eight years on air, winning 21 Emmys and solidifying itself as one of television’s most beloved and critically acclaimed series. Over 15 years after it ended, “The Sopranos” topped Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.”
According to the Holsten's staff, the furniture is over 60-years-old and raises concerns about customer safety, prompting the booth's renovation and sale.
“Please understand that we don't want to do this. But the integrity of the booths are now compromised … 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,” Holsten's said.
Despite the changes being made to Holsten’s, the restaurant assures its patrons that the integrity of the shoppe will remain intact.
“We aren't going to change the nostalgia of our beloved shoppe.... we aren't crazy! Just polishing up the place!,” the owners wrote.