Shubhabrata Dutta
Helmed by Stephen Chbosky, Netflix’s ‘Nonnas’ is a comedy drama about a man named Joe searching for peace after losing his mom and grandma. Finding comfort in his family’s culinary heritage, he opens Enoteca Maria, an old-school Italian restaurant in Staten Island, with nonnas, AKA grandmothers, all hailing from Italy, as the chefs. In his endeavor, Joe is joined by his best friend, Bruno, and Olivia, whom he stood up at prom. The movie is inspired by Enoteca Maria, a real restaurant with grandmothers from across the world as chefs, which has been operating in Staten Island since 2007. While food and family drive the narrative of ‘Nonnas,’ the bright and colorful visuals serve as garnishing ingredients, accentuating the show’s aesthetic.
Nonnas Filming Locations
While the real restaurant is based in Staten Island in New York City, New York, ‘Nonnas’ was filmed in New York as well as New Jersey. Principal photography began in May 2023 and continued for several months before wrapping up in the second half of September of the same year. The prolonged filming schedule may have been a result of the SAG-AFTRA strike, but thankfully, the film got made. The crew reportedly captured the scenes in New York City first and then moved to various counties in New Jersey.
New York City, New York
Since Staten Island is in New York, the production crew filmed additional scenes there, at 44 East 14th Street, to be precise. Filming took place within the residence, on the street, and in the areas nearby. Police Officers were posted for security and to control traffic. Residents and businesses were notified in advance to ensure no inconvenience. The area in front of Taqueria El Gallo Azteca, a Mexican restaurant, at 75 Victory Boulevard in Staten Island, was also used for establishing shots. The Staten Island Ferry, running through New York Harbor between the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island, was also used for establishing shots and wide shots.
Union County, New Jersey
The production team captured many indoor and outdoor scenes, including the restaurant scenes, in Union County, located in northern New Jersey. In the city of Elizabeth, the county seat, the crew used the building at 714 3rd Avenue to double for the movie’s Enoteca Maria restaurant. It was once home to Spirito’s Restaurant, which shut down in 2020 after staying in business for almost 100 years.
The areas near Sacco’s Meat Market, located at 806 3rd Avenue, and Santillo’s Brick Oven Pizza, at 39 South Broad Street, were also used to film some scenes. Other than Elizabeth, the crew also shot some scenes in the city of Linden, which lies in the County’s southeastern region. It is known for the Hawk Rise Sanctuary, a bird sanctuary, the John Russell Wheeler Park, a popular spot for skateboarders, and the Peach Orchard Park.
Hudson County, New Jersey
The Production team used various towns and cities in Hudson County, located in the northeast region of New Jersey, for many scenes. Jersey City, the seat of the County, is considered one of the most ethnically diverse cities in America. The crew also shot several outdoor scenes in the city of Hoboken, which lies on the west bank of the Hudson River between Weehawken and Union City to the north and Jersey City to the south and west.
The crew reportedly filmed some scenes near Basile’s, a pizza restaurant at 89 Washington Street in Hoboken. In Bayonne, a city situated in the Gateway Region on Bergen Neck peninsula, the crew used East 14th Street, West 34th Street, 30 West 36th Street, and Judicke’s Bakery, at 763 Broadway, as the backdrops for a handful of outdoor scenes. Equipment was set up in a way that ensured the safe passage of the public.
Passaic County, New Jersey
In Passaic County, which borders New York State on the north, the team accessed the city of Paterson, the county seat, and America’s first planned industrial city. Known for its role in silk production in the second half of the 19th century, Paterson is also known as Silk City. The 77-ft Great Falls waterfall, AKA the Great Falls of the Passaic River, a part of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, also served as the backdrop for a few scenes. The park is located at 72 McBride Avenue Extension and holds historical importance for kick-starting water-power development in the country in 1792. Several scenes of the movie were also lensed downtown.
Middlesex County, New Jersey
The team also shot scenes in Edison, a township in Middlesex County, in north-central New Jersey. The Raritan Valley Bus Station at 115 Main Street became the base for a few scenes. The place is known for its Oak Tree Pond, where the Battle of Short Hills occurred in 1777, Roosevelt Park, and Edison State Park. Middlesex County itself is home to many parks, including Thompson Park, Donaldson Park, Carteret Waterfront Park, Fords Park, and Medwick Park.
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