Boonton was one of three towns that producers considered along with Warwick, N.Y. and Clinton in Hunterdon County. But Regina Heyman, location manager for the show, said two factor put Boonton ahead of the competition. “One nice thing is it’s on a hill,” Heyman said. “Instead of looking down a sraight road, there’s more of a landscape”
“One of the main reasons is because the executive producer, David Chase, grew up the first years of his life here, “ Heyman said. “He remembers this place. It’s sort of nostalgic for him.”
The cast and crew of the HBO series “The Sopranos” will be in town for a two-day shoot this week. The shoot seems to have generated equal amounts of excitement and apprehension among business owners ever since producers approached the board of aldermen in July about filming a scene on Main Street. Some Main Street merchants are looking forward to the shoot, saying it will draw spectators and fans who eventually will wander into downtown shops and eateries and spend money. Some fans said they would be coming from as far away as Connecticut to watch the show being filmed.
But other business owners still feeling the sting of a Kmart commercial filmed on Main Street several years ago, said the shoot will prevent shoppers from getting to their stores, and will cost them money.
Store owner Claire Berger was in the midst of moving from the adjacent store front,and she will open for business on Friday. Until then, she said she had no problem letting the producers use her new shop. “In the long run, everybody wins out,” Berger said. “People who didn’t know Boonton now know Boonton.”