Juliet Papa's Seven Notorious Mafia Spots And Hangouts In NYC

The American Mafia was born in New York City and has certainly left its mark on the Big Apple. 1010 WINS' reporter Juliet Papa is an expert on the Mob, having penned several books on organized crime. Here, she shares with us 7 New York City haunts notorious for Mafia meetups, hits and busts.

Sparks Steakhouse

210 E 46th Street

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Known for its fine steaks and chops, Sparks is also known for the sensational rubout of Godfather Paul Castellano. He was gunned down in front of the renowned restaurant in a bloody coup that saw the ascendancy of John Gotti as the boss of the Gambino crime family. The afternoon shooting occurred on December 16, 1985. The restaurant remains a popular eatery, and has a unique place in New York Mafia history.

Rao's Restaurant

455 E. 114 Street

Rao's sits on the corner of 114th and Pleasant Avenue, but it wasn't a very pleasant experience when Louie "Lump Lump" Barone turned and shot wiseguy Albert Circelli at the bar on December 22, 2003. Barone got angry when Circelli complained about a patron's singing and then cursed out Barone who told him to shut up. Circelli died trying to run out the door.

Park Central Hotel

870 Seventh Avenue

On October 25, 1957, the then-Park Sheraton Hotel was the location of one of the most brazen rubouts in mob history. Mafia boss Albert Anastasia was gunned down in the corner barbershop as he sat in the chair for a shave and a haircut. The barbershop is now a Starbucks.

Triangle Social Club

208 Sullivan Street

The stronghold for Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, former boss of the Genovese Crime Family. He grew up in the neighborhood – his mother lived down the block – and conducted mob business out of this unassuming location. But unlike well–dressed counterpart John Gotti, who worked just a neighborhood over, Gigante could be seen walking along the street in bathrobe and slippers. This earned him the name "The Oddfather." He died in prison in 2005. The Triangle Social Club club is now the Sullivan Street Tea and Spice Company.

Lucali's Restaurant

575 Henry Street
Brooklyn

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Known for its thin-crust pizza and visits from celebrities like Jay-Z and Beyonce, Lucali's is also known for owner Mark Iacono's recent knock-about with wiseguy Benny Geritano. Both stabbed each other in June during a fight and ended up in separate hospitals. Some say it was over a girlfriend, but neither guy was talking, so the charges were dropped. Geritano had recently been released from prison. Lucali's was closed briefly, but reopened again, on a block in the cozy Carroll Gardens section known for its "social clubs."

Ravenite Social Club (Now Closed)

247 Mulberry Street

John Gotti presided over the powerful Gambino crime family in this modest ground-floor walk-up in the trendy Nolita section of Manhattan. He held meetings, and threatened to kill (and did kill) those who wouldn't attend. The FBI learned his secret meeting place upstairs and wired it up, recording conversations that led to his conviction.

Columbus Circle

59th Street and Broadway

Mob boss Joe Colombo was gunned down during a Unity Day rally June 28, 1978, as part of a violent struggle for control of the Profaci-Colombo crime family. Although hundreds of people witnessed the shooting, no one was ever caught. Some say "Crazy" Joe Gallo was behind the shooting. A year later, Gallo was murdered in Umberto's Clam House on Mulberry Street in Little Italy.