Frank’s Famous Pizzeria on Monmouth Street is known for some of Jersey City’s best pizza, as well as some of the best prices on pizza (and many other Italian styled food favorites) in town. It is also home to one of our city’s most famous Figures, an Italian-American version of the iconic Bob’s Big Boy Statue—Franchigia.
The pizzeria has been around for more than a quarter century, the statue about 12 years, according to Frank Scallione, owner of the establishment. This familiar sentinel on the sidewalk who beckons and welcomes the hungry was a present to Frank from a friend. His actual origins are unknown.
Unlike his owner, Franchigia is reluctant to speak to the press, although he did agree to answer a few of my questions. “I no like to talk about my past,” said Franchigia, in his typical tight-lipped fashion.
Frank, also a recent candidate for City Council (he lost, but did well enough that he is determined to run for the office again next election), named the statue after himself (also, the name of his “Ristorante”) although he used the more Italian derivation. “He looks Italian, that’s why I gave him that name,” said Frank. “What is more Italian than Pizza?”
“I am as Italian as pizza,” agreed Franchigia.
Franchigia is life-sized, made of fiberglass. He has a cockeyed smile, tilted head, his right eye squints to form a wink. He wears an apron, a fluffy chef’s hat on his head and a bandanna tied around his neck. His right hand offers a perpetual thumbs up sign (what’s more Italian-American than Eternal Optimism?) and his left hand is aloft, holding a sign with the day’s pizzeria specials (dozen mussels: $7.00!).
“The best food at the best prices in the city,” Franchigia declared with stoic conviction.
Franchigia had a health scare in August. Outside, during one of the Summer’s sudden, fierce thunderstorms, sheets of rain and a powerful gust of wind knocked Franchigia to the sidewalk, breaking his thumb up arm. The arm remains stationary in a cast made of packing and duct tape. A full recovery is expected, although results are pending from a fiberglass restoration specialist.
“No one can notice the injury,” said Franchigia. “Most days, I don’t even know my arm’s broken. Nothing will stop me from doing what I have to do on Monmouth.”
“You mean stand here?”
“With my thumb up! It’s always up. And, do you see this list of specials? It goes down to the concrete! It gets longer every day! You think holding that up and never letting go is easy? I’ve never dropped the specials all my time here. ”
I asked Frank, “Is that true?”
“No comment,” said Frank.
There was an uneasy silence before I broke it by asking Franchigia, “The fracture doesn’t hurt?”
“As long as my elbow is kept immobile, I feel no pain.”
“Is there any truth to the rumor your injury was the result of an altercation with some male assailants? Some say that three boys from Italy were seen near you on this sidewalk the day before your injury was reported.”
“I said it was the storm! I got no beef with those boys! No more Questions.”
The atmosphere became very tense. Franchigia refused to speak. He ignored me, just kept staring towards the street and never changed his expression. Eventually, Frank said. “I used to have two locations. The other one was in the Heights. I used to ferry him back and forth between each place. Now, I just bring him inside when I close.”
Franchigia sighed. Maybe he has a temper, but his outburst quickly faded. “I never liked the commute. I’m more of a downtown statue.”
Frank's Famous Italian Pizzeria
415 Monmouth St
(201) 798-1173
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