Italian-Australian icon Franco Cozzo remembered in retail revival
The late retailer Franco Cozzo furnished generations of Italian-Australians. Now his daughters are continuing the family tradition.
Italian-Australian icon Franco Cozzo is being remembered in a retail revival at his Brunswick store, which reopened after a five-year hiatus over the weekend. Cozzo, best known for his animated appearance, Megalo! catchphrase, and pronounced Footscray as "Foot-iz-kraay," became a cultural icon in Melbourne while selling furniture on television.
He opened his first furniture shop in North Melbourne in 1959 and later expanded to a Footscray outlet, which closed in 2018. Cozzo's legacy includes appearances on TV shows and his furniture style being featured in electronic dance music. His children have revived the Brunswick store, with a grand reopening featuring his daughter Alessia Cozzo emphasizing the store's cultural significance.
Cozzo's story showcases how migrants can achieve success and become part of Melbourne's cultural fabric.
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