Franco Cozzo, the iconic Italian-Australian furniture businessman known for his distinctive 1980s TV adverts, has passed away at the age of 88. Originally from Sicily, he arrived in Melbourne in the 1950s with little money. Despite the challenges, he built a successful furniture business with stores in Footscray and Brunswick. Cozzo’s memorable catchphrases, such as “Grand Sale, Grand Sale,” made him a local legend. He is survived by his wife Assunta Cozzo and 10 children. In 2015, a mural in Footscray immortalized him, and in 2021, a documentary titled “Palazzo di Cozzo” explored his life and Melbourne’s migration history.
