A New Jersey strip club that served as a favorite hangout for fictional mobsters in HBO’s The Sopranos has been ordered to shut down as authorities investigate possible real-life crimes.
Scenes at the show’s fictional Bada Bing club were shot inside Satin Dolls in Lodi.
On Thursday, New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino announced that Satin Dolls and another club owned by the same family must stop live entertainment this month and sell their liquor licenses by January 3.
Investigators say former owner Anthony Cardinalle continued to run the clubs despite being barred from doing so.
A New Jersey strip club (above) that served as a favorite hangout for fictional mobsters in HBO’s The Sopranos has been ordered to shut down as authorities investigate possible real-life crimes
The Sopranos told the story of a North Jersey crime family run by Tony Soprano (played by James Goldfini, right). He would often run his affairs from the fictional Bada Bing club. Cast mate Tony Sirico is seen left portraying Soprano associate ‘Paulie Walnuts’
Owners of the Satin Dolls would often play up their association with the hit show
They say the clubs failed to account for large amounts of cash moving in and out.
Satin Dolls also faces pending charges from alcohol investigators of criminal solicitation of prostitution and lewd activity.
A phone listing for Cardinalle rang unanswered Thursday.
‘Illegal activity was glorified at the ‘Bada Bing’ in the fictional world of Tony Soprano, but it has no place in modern-day New Jersey,’ Porrino said in a press release announcing the order.
‘It’s time to shut it down.’
On Thursday, New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino announced that Satin Dolls and another club owned by the same family must stop live entertainment this month and sell their liquor licenses by January 3
In 1995, Cardinalle pleaded guilty to federal income tax evasion.
According to The Bergen Record, he admitted to failing to report cash payments from ‘gentleman’s clubs’ in which he held undisclosed interests.
In 2013, Cardinalle also pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to commit extortion.
Authorities alleged that he took part in a fraudulent scheme run by the Genovese crime family related to the waste-disposal industry in New Jersey and New York.
Another defendant in the case, Howard Ross, was described by William Pepe of Satin Dolls in a document filed in court as ‘holding court at the bar’ of the club playing up mob ties.
‘Ross was always bragging about his mafia connections and how he knew everybody in the five families,’ he stated in court filings.
Investigators say former owner Anthony Cardinalle continued to run the clubs despite being barred from doing so. A makeshift memorial to Gandolfini, who died in 2013, is seen above at the Satin Dolls. Gandolfini was 51 years old
Pepe made those statements at a time when Cardinalle was asking for a psychiatric evaluation to be performed on Ross, who had dished to an agent posing as a waste hauling company owner.
Ironically, Tony Soprano, the main character in the show who was portrayed by late actor James Gandolfini, also claimed to work in waste management as a front for his criminal activities.
Cardinalle could not be reached for comment Thursday.
In 2014, the Satin Dolls was robbed of $30,000 by two men armed with shotguns, according to police.
Lodi police said in a notice posted to Facebook that the gunmen fled the scene.
When Gandolfini died in 2013, the phones at Satin Dolls were ringing constantly with calls.