Holsteins Ice Cream, Chocolate and Restaurant in Bloomfield, New Jersey is a Sopranos’ fans’ tourist attraction. A booth in the restaurant section was filmed in various segments of the series with various characters in the show sitting in the booth. Tourist buses with fans from everywhere, inclduing foreign tourists, stop at the curb outside Holsteins. After their arrival is announced and any preparations are made, the tourists are allowed in about four at a time. They get to sit in the booth and have pictures taken sitting in the booth. Regular business in Holsteins goes on in the meantime as best it can.
I know because I knew nothing of any of that one day when I was having a little lunch at Holsteins, and when all the “fandom” was in progress I had to ask another Holsteins’ customer what all the commotion was about.
Not ever having watched the Sopranos series, and knowing only what I had read about it over the years from news reports, all I could say was “OMG!!!!, You’ve got to be kidding!!!!”.
My life has been one where very seldom have I ever been a fan of being fan (which is short for fanatic). Working in New York City for many years I ran across, met and spoke with a number of “celebrities”. Never impressed and never behaved as if they were not just a regular person.
“Holsteins Ice Cream, Chocolate and Restaurant in Bloomfield, New Jersey...”
Is this the place in the final scene where Tony is sitting with his family?
I hear the onion rings there are to die for.