Has Franco Cozzo secured his ultimate “grand sale”?
After half a century selling furniture in Footscray, the renowned spruiker-turned-cult figure has apparently sold his 1088-square-metre Hopkins Road premises for well over $6 million.
Title documents show a contract for sale has been entered into for the site with Derrimut-based developer Pelligra Group, and the store has been listed as sold on a number of real estate advertising sites.
Under the Footscray Structure Plan, the site has been identified as suitable for redevelopment of up to 10 storeys.
While Mr Cozzo has released a video saying he would be staying put for now, he did not deny the site had been sold.
“Hello my friend, I’m Franco Cozzo from Brunswick and Footscray. No listen anybody, I’m staying Footscray. I am in Footscray. I’ll tell you when I go from Footscray. Ciao.”
Mr Cozzo’s store has long been a Footscray landmark.
After arriving from Italy on Australia Day 1956, Mr Cozzo went door to door selling electrical appliances, despite being unable to speak English.
He soon went into partnership in a furniture business in Collingwood and later opened his own stores in North Melbourne, Brunswick and Footscray.
Mr Cozzo initially advertised on Melbourne radio. But it was his television commercials, which are still on the air, that made him a household name.
Spoken in three languages – English, Italian and Greek – the advertisements have become ingrained in Melbourne’s popular culture and a hit on social media, including the catchphrase “megalo, megalo, megalo”, a Greek word meaning, large, great or grand.
Mr Cozzo, 82, said at the time of putting the property on the market that it was time to slow down.
“The people of Footscray have given me great support for many years and I have beautiful memories,” he told Star Weekly.
“I’ve been part of the community and Footscray has been part of me, but it’s time to relax a little more.’’
Mr Cozzo and Pelligra Group have been contacted for comment.
