Stephen Chbosky’s upcoming movie NONNAS, starring Vince Vaughn as Joe Scarevella, tells a heartwarming story based on real life. Inspired by the Staten Island restaurant Enoteca Maria, NONNAS highlights a unique concept—where all the cooking is done by grandmothers from around the world. The film also features well-known stars like Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Linda Cardellini, Joe Manganiello, Talia Shire, and Brenda Vaccaro.
While the movie centers around a restaurant in Staten Island, the filming for NONNAS didn’t happen entirely there. Instead, the production took viewers on a visual journey across both New York City and New Jersey.
Let’s take a closer look at all the filming spots that brought this charming film to life.
NEW YORK CITY: A SMALL BUT MEANINGFUL PIECE
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Although most of NONNAS was filmed elsewhere, a few important scenes were actually shot in Staten Island, where the real-life Enoteca Maria is located. One of the key locations used was 44 East 14th Street, where the crew filmed both inside the residence and on the surrounding streets. Security officers were present during the shoot to help manage traffic and safety.
The area around 75 Victory Boulevard, right in front of Taqueria El Gallo Azteca, also made it into the movie. These establishing shots help root the film in Staten Island—even if the rest of the movie was captured elsewhere.
Another recognizable location used was the Staten Island Ferry, a well-known part of the New York City landscape. This helped establish a strong visual connection to the city’s boroughs.
UNION COUNTY, NEW JERSEY: THE MAIN LOCATION
The movie’s main scenes were shot in Union County, NJ. The city of Elizabeth, in particular, did a great job of standing in for the made-up ‘Enoteca Maria’. The historic Spirito’s Restaurant used to be at 714 3rd Avenue. For the movie, it was turned into Joe Scarevella’s restaurant.
The movie was filmed near Sacco’s Meat Market (806 3rd Avenue) and Santillo’s Brick Oven Pizza (39 South Broad Street) as well as at 714 3rd Avenue. These places in the neighborhood helped make it feel like you were in a cozy, real Italian restaurant.
Another important place was the city of Linden, which is also in Union County. A lot of the outdoor scenes in the movie probably took place in places like—John Russell Wheeler Park and Peach Orchard Park.
HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY: DIVERSE BACKDROPS
Both Jersey City, which is known for being diverse and Hoboken, which has a lot of history, had parts in the movie. Both cities are in Hudson County, which is a popular place for filming because it has a lot of cities and is easy to get to.
It is said that scenes were filmed in Hoboken near the popular Basile’s Pizza on Washington Street. Hudson County, with its mix of old buildings and neighborhood vibes, was a great place for the movie’s city scenes.
BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, USA
Meanwhile, Bayonne offered multiple locations for outdoor filming, including East 14th Street, West 34th Street, and 30 West 36th Street. A special mention goes to Judicke’s Bakery on Broadway, which was used for a few scenes. The film crew made sure all setups were safe and didn’t disrupt the local public.
PASSAIC COUNTY, NEW JERSEY: HISTORIC TOUCHES
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The filmmakers also visited Paterson in Passaic County, which is famous for its industrial history and silk production. The beautiful Great Falls of the Passaic River in Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park are the best thing about this place. Some scenes in the movie looked beautiful against the backdrop of this 77-foot waterfall.
The historical importance of Paterson, also known as “Silk City” made the story about a family stand out in a new way, and it may have added emotional or symbolic meaning to certain scenes.
MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NEW JERSEY: FINAL STOPS
In Edison, located in Middlesex County, the production team used the Raritan Valley Bus Station at 115 Main Street. This township is known for its parks, like Roosevelt Park and Edison State Park, and may have provided quiet, suburban shots to balance out the city footage.
The region’s historical value and accessibility made it a strong fit for the later parts of the shoot.
FILMING TIMELINE AND CHALLENGES
Filming began in May 2023 and went on until September 2023. Even though most of the locations were captured without any problems, the production may have been held up by the SAG-AFTRA strike that happened at the same time and affected a lot of the entertainment business.
Even with these problems, the movie was finished on time thanks to smart location choices that gave ‘NONNAS’ both a real—grounded feel and a warm, cinematic feel.
Fans who are excited to see NONNAS will enjoy it even more if they know where it was filmed. If you live in or are planning to visit the neighborhoods that were used in the movie—you can now see them through the lens of a movie.
Soon, you can go back to tvacute.com to get more NONNAS news, location information, and news from behind the scenes.
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