Own a piece of the Bada Bing
Monday, August 20, 2007
Now you can own a piece of the strip club that was such a central part of The Sopranos for the entire run of the show, the Bada Bing. Clear some room in your basement. The AP announced today that relics from The Bada Bing, including 12-foot stripper poles and other items from the HBO drama will go on sale on eBay this week. Items from the Bada Bing that will be available for purchase include a pool table, a disco ball, and the fluorescent purple men's room sign often seen on the show.
The real name of the Bada Bing was Satin Dolls and that's the club using the items from the show to make a little cash. How much would a stripper pole that James Gandolfini once acted nearby go for? It's hard to say, but Susie Quigley, the special events runner for Satin Dolls, seems optimistic. She told the AP, "The poles have been featured in almost every single episode. I can't begin to say." Quigley herself appeared as an extra on The Sopranos last season.
What else can you get from the Bing? At least 10 standard-issue bar stools that James Gandolfini and other actors from The Sopranos used in some crucial scenes. Even the corner of the bar where Tony and his crew usually sat and did business is up for sale. That would be a nice addition to any bar.
Quigley tells the press that it's not just for cash, but that when the show ended, Satin Dolls was free to renovate, which means the old stuff has got to go. The renovation of Satin Dolls is expected to take up to four months, but it will remain open for business during that time. Satin Dolls already sells Sopranos items, including T-shirts, hats, and coffee mugs, and is featured on bus tours of Sopranos sites in New Jersey. The Bing will never be the same.
Satin Dolls isn't the only place trying to cash in on the end of The Sopranos. Satriale's, another primary location for the gang on the show, is being demolished and the bricks will be sold one by one. Nine condo units are going in where Satriale's used to be. The times they truly are a-changin'.