Footscray is about to become a little less Footscray after the sale of the downright iconic Franco Cozzo furniture showroom.
The Star Weekly reports the Hopkins St property, which has offered Melburnians the finest in imported Italian furniture for decades, was sold last week for $6 million.
Cozzo, who became a local icon thanks to his instantly-recognisable commercials and irrepressible love for West Melbourne, said last year that it was time for him to wind back his operations.
“I’ve been part of the community and Footscray has been part of me, but it’s time to relax a little more,” the 82-year-old told the Star Weekly at the time.
But he changed his tune earlier this year, and a new raft of ads began broadcasting during breaks in the summer’s cricket coverage.
“Melbourne loves Franco Cozzo, I created myself a name and it has grown for generations. I want to be here for another generation,” Cozzo told the Herald Sun.
He then explained he made a contract with God himself to stick around for another fifty years. So.
While Cozzo’s Brunswick store remains, it’s yet to be seen what will happen to the Footscray site.
Pending the big rubber stamp from the council, the site could be transformed into a different commercial property – or flattened to make way for yet another lot of apartments.
Expect riots if developers dare touch the mural on the side of the building, though.
