Food Fellas came by the market to film a pilot for a new cooking show. More info coming soon...





















La Casa Grande
Tobacco Company

Announcing Exclusive LCG Cigars
now available to the general public with a Collector’s Edition of Exclusive Boxed Cigars to follow in 2006.

After serving private clients, custom corporate requests and the elite for years, we are now opening our humidors to the public. With only the finest of ingredients and craftsmanship used in the manufacture of our Hand Made cigars, it’s no wonder we’ve been a hidden treasure. As we introduce ourselves to you, LCG hopes to provide you with some of the best cigars in the world. At this time, we are producing a limited numbered edition (998 to be exact) of our Exclusive Boxed Cigars. Place an order for any of our Hand Made cigars by December 23, 2005, we’ll add your name to our list of preferred clients eligible to obtain one of these limited edition boxes.

From the BronxTimes Reporter-Vol.22 No.6, Feb. 21-27,200

By Jon Minners

Despite such a long layoff between season, fans are still clamoring for the return of the hit HBO series, The Sopranos. Filming continues on the popular story focusing on an Italian Mafia family with several scenes being shot right here in the Bronx.

On Monday, February 11, the cast of The Sopranos visited Arthur Avenue’s Mario’s Restaurant, 2342 Arthur Avenue, and La Casa Grande Tobacco Company, 2344 Arthur Avenue, for some good food and a fine cigar. “This was the first time they ever shot here,” said Joseph Migliuccci, owner of Mario’s Restaurant. “It was very exciting to see how they operate and how they do things. It was quite a production, and I was happy to have them here.”

The crew of The Sopranos, including series star James Gandolfini, shot a scene at the restaurant and was there from early morning hours to 8:30p.m. “They were shooting a scene somewhere in the south Bronx and inquired about shooting a scene at a restaurant at Arthur Avenue,” said Migliucci. “They picked us as the best restaurant to use for their scene. They were here all day and we fed their entire crew of 160 people. It was really nice, and they were really great to have here. I look forward to seeing the episode, which they told me should be aired sometime in October.”

DiSilvio is happy with The Sopranos appearance at his store and Migliucci has already gotten a response from the neighborhood. Already known in the community for 83 years and five generations of owners, Migliucci stated that he has seen a lot more people coming around after hearing that his restaurant will be on the television series. “We’ve had some other projects shot here,” he said. “A lot of people heard about it, and that’s great. I thank them and I was happy to have them here.”

One of the actors in the scene was Eugene DiSilvio, whose son, Paul, owns the cigar shop right next door to the restaurant. The cast of The Sopranos stopped by La Casa Grande to take a look around the popular three-year-old cigar shop. “I freaked out,” said Paul DiSilvio. “I am a big fan of the show. I thought it was fantastic and the customers were really impressed having them here. I think the cast was impressed by the cigars I had.”

DiSilvio’s father worked in the Arthur Avenue retail market before turning to acting, and now he has come full circle, working in the same retail market, offering the community premium cigars. In the past, President George Bush, Governor George Pataki and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Mayor Mike Bloomberg, Yankees Manager Joe Torre and actress Jennifer Aniston have enjoyed DiSilvio’s cigars. The owner of La Casa Grande was happy to have the cast of The Sopranos there to sample his special hand-rolled cigars. “They were very nice,” he said. “I had the guy who plays Cousin Furio perform that thick Italian accent he uses on the show, and I gave him one of the cigars we roll right on the premises. He told me it is one of the best cigars that he has ever had. Everyone thanked me for giving them cigars. It was a great experience; something you never forget.