Franco Cozzo's Legacy Lives On: Family Revives Brunswick Furniture Store
Melbourne's beloved Italian-Australian icon, Franco Cozzo, is being fondly remembered for his larger-than-life personality and contributions to the city's cultural fabric. Cozzo's business empire, which began with a furniture showroom in North Melbourne in 1959, has been revived by his daughters in Brunswick.
Melbourne's beloved Italian-Australian icon, Franco Cozzo, is being fondly remembered for his larger-than-life personality and contributions to the city's cultural fabric. Cozzo, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 88, left an indelible mark on Melbourne's retail landscape with his distinctive furniture stores and charismatic television commercials.
A Cultural Icon
With his animated appearance and unmistakable dialect, Cozzo inadvertently became a cultural icon in Melbourne. His 'Megalo!' catchphrase and unique pronunciation of place names, such as 'Foot-iz-kraay' for Footscray, made him a household name. Cozzo's business empire, which began with a furniture showroom in North Melbourne in 1959, expanded to include a flagship store in Footscray that operated for decades.