2 ‘Sopranos’ mobsters will help reopen Unclaimed Freight
Here’s how they ended up in Bethlehem
Ever wonder what happened to mob boss Tony Soprano’s right-hand man, Furio Giunta, after he disappeared back to Italy right before Tony found out his wife was attracted to Furio?
Well, you might get a chance to ask him in person Saturday at the grand reopening for furniture retailer Unclaimed Freight in Bethlehem.
Actor Federico Castelluccio, who played the intimidating, no-nonsense Giunta on “The Sopranos” hit TV series, and actor John Bianco, who played Soprano rival Phil Leotardo’s enforcer, Gerry Torciano, will be guests at Saturday’s event. The store was shut down for three months because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sopranos Con, which organizes “Sopranos”-themed public events for fans of the show, agreed to help promote Unclaimed Freight’s grand reopening by having a public meet-and-greet with Castelluccio and Bianco noon to 2 p.m. at the store, 2260 Industrial Drive.
That came about after Angela Colabella, daughter of Unclaimed Freight founder Joseph Colabella, learned through social media about “An Evening At Tony’s,” a Sopranos Con event over the summer where fans got to visit the house that doubles as Tony Soprano’s residence on the show.
A huge “Sopranos” fan, Colabella bought a ticket to the event at the home in North Caldwell, New Jersey, where she met Castelluccio, Bianco and other cast members.
“It was very surreal, and I was a little bit starstruck,” Colabella said. “They’re really nice people. I got to hang out with them at a pub nearby after the event. They’re great guys. Very down to earth.”
Colabella also met Sopranos Con co-founder Michael Mota, who agreed to be part of Unclaimed Freight’s upcoming event. And the furniture store will help sponsor a Sopranos Con event featuring “Sopranos” cast members and actors from classic mob-themed movies in the summer at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
“Our motto is ‘for the fans, by the fans,’ and we found out what a big fan Angela is,” Mota said. “So to show our appreciation, wewanted to help bring the community back to supporting her family business.”
Unclaimed Freight was founded in the 1970s by Joseph Colabella, who will pass ownership on to his daughter and grandson upon retiring soon.
The store has recovered from previous challenges, said store manager Robert Hahn, Joseph Colabella’s nephew.
In 1992, charges against
former executives of siphoning money from the company for personal use were settled out of court. In 1994, debt, a shortage of merchandise and low sales forced the store to file for Chap
ter 11 bankruptcy protection.
In 2002, ongoing financial troubles led to the closing of the store’s four other locations in Berks and Bucks counties and New Jersey, leaving just the
main location in Bethlehem. And a February 2019 fire forced the Bethlehem location to close for six months.
But now, “we are back,” Hahn said. “Bigger, better and stronger
than ever!”