Sam’s Restaurant is a 94-year-old establishment in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn that has become a popular filming location for movies and television shows. On this particular day, the restaurant was being transformed into an Italian American social club from the Great Depression for the film “The Bride!” starring Christian Bale and Penélope Cruz. The owner, Louis Migliaccio, oversaw the production, ensuring that everything was running smoothly and the actors’ privacy was respected.
Despite the hustle and bustle of the film crew, Sam’s Restaurant maintains a sense of authenticity with its classic decor and traditional menu offerings. The restaurant stands out in a neighborhood filled with trendy Italian eateries and upscale pizzerias. Celebrities like Jay-Z and Beyoncé frequent other establishments in the area, while Sam’s attracts star power only on shoot days.
Louis Migliaccio, who reluctantly took over the family business in 2016, has seen the neighborhood evolve rapidly over the years. The old Italian residents have moved away, replaced by a younger, wealthier crowd who demand a different level of service. While the new residents may not appreciate the history of Sam’s, filmmakers value the restaurant’s vintage charm as a unique and reliable location for their projects.
As the filming for “The Bride!” progressed throughout the day, Louis found himself drawn to the action inside the restaurant. Despite his initial reluctance to be involved in the family business, he admitted that shoot days provided him with a sense of excitement and enjoyment that he didn’t experience in his day-to-day operations as a restaurateur. The chance to observe and interact with the actors and crew on set was a welcome change from the monotony of running a restaurant.
While the prospect of retirement and leaving behind the challenges of running a business weighed heavily on Louis’s mind, the financial stability provided by the film productions kept him tethered to Sam’s. His daughter, who is pursuing a career in law enforcement, is not interested in taking over the restaurant, leaving him unsure of the future of the establishment. Despite the struggles and uncertainties, Louis continues to operate Sam’s, serving up classic Italian dishes to a mix of tourists and young transplants.
Ultimately, the future of Sam’s Restaurant is uncertain, as advancements in digital technology may render the need for authentic filming locations obsolete. The ability to digitally erase anachronisms in postproduction may eliminate the demand for perfectly preserved time capsules like Sam’s. However, for now, the restaurant remains a popular destination for film crews seeking a taste of old-school New York, and Louis finds solace and excitement in the chaos of shoot days.
