Coming Soon: Mob Scene Gallery at 396 Broome

Sitting quietly beside the recently-relocated Cowboy Shoe Repair at the nexus of Broome Street and Centre Market Pl is a sliver storefront currently undergoing some renovations.  It’s pretty easy to walk by without noticing. Well, in a matter of weeks, this narrow space will birth a gallery showroom with an historical bent.

Our cultural fascination with mobsters and their illicit culture is by no means fading.  From Godfather and Goodfellas to Soprano’s to Boardwalk Empire, the lifestyle is both glorified and romanticized.  Enter Mob Scene at 396 Broome Street, a showspace that will focus entirely on the criminal underworld of yore.

Perfectly positioned in Little Italy, a neighborhood rich with gangster history, Mob Scene is a joint venture between historical archivist Arthur Nash (author of New York City Gangland) and gangster-actor Vinny Vella (Casino, Sopranos, Analyze That).

We reached out to Nash for more information, and received an email with the following description:

Mob Scene’s mission is to showcase rotating exhibitions of archival images and genuine historical objects relating to a period in history that the nation’s public has a justifiably longstanding fascination with. The first of these will be on the life of gang leader (and Bob Dylan ballad subject), Joey Gallo. Its working title is “Godfather Game: The Legend of Crazy Joe.”

Naturally, a key element for the gallery is location — the heart of Little Italy with an unobstructed view of Police Headquarters — considering the neighborhood is a museum piece in and of itself. A few years ago I staged a two-month “Pop Up” exhibition titled “MADE In America” beside Umberto’s former location on Mulberry Street. Even though some time has passed I’m consistently asked when the show will return, so now it will, only long term. And with Free Admission, whereas last time we charged a door fee. We’re firm believers that if you give quality you get quality.