Coney Island’s Williams Candy celebrates its role in Oscar-nominated ‘Anora’ • Brooklyn Paper

Williams Sweet, a beloved 84-year-old Coney Island landmark, is having fun with a candy second within the highlight after the movie ‘Anora,’ which filmed pivotal scenes within the retailer, earned six Oscar nominations Thursday.

The shop on the nook of Surf Avenue supplied a vibrant backdrop for scenes within the critically acclaimed drama a couple of younger intercourse employee from Brooklyn who impulsively marries the son of a Russian billionaire. Coney Island was not the one Brooklyn location featured within the movie, with Brighton Seaside, Sheepshead Bay, Mill Basin, and Midwood filling out the remainder of the film’s canvas.

Directed by Sean Baker, ‘Anora’ was nominated on Jan. 23 for Greatest Image, Greatest Actress in a Main Function for Mikey Madison, Greatest Supporting Actor for Yura Borisov, Greatest Modifying, Greatest Unique Screenplay, and Greatest Director.

Retailer proprietor Peter Agrapides stated he and his employees plan to cheer on the ‘Anora’ workforce on Oscar night time, March 2, regardless of having blended feelings about seeing his beloved enterprise get “damaged up” on the massive display screen.

“It was a tough watch. It appeared like they had been destroying my retailer,” stated Agrapides. “It’s good that it received nominated. We’re very pleased for ‘Anora,’ however I went via hell that day. There have been so many individuals right here, and I didn’t know what was occurring in my retailer.”

Throughout a one-day shoot in March 2022, the manufacturing workforce rearranged the shop and changed a number of show circumstances with sugar glass for a demolition scene. The movie additionally portrays the shop as having ties to the Russian mafia and exhibits staff smoking hashish on the job — depictions Agrapides harassed had been fiction.

The Agrapides household has deep roots within the Coney group. In 1975, the household opened Pete’s Clam Cease, and in 1982, after the unique proprietor of Williams Sweet handed away, they took over the sweet enterprise subsequent door. Since then, Williams Sweet has remained true to being an quaint sweet retailer the place the whole lot is made on sight, providing their selfmade sweet apples and different basic treats.

Whereas the shop’s look in ‘Anora’ introduced a fine addition to enterprise in the course of the quiet low season, most guests are keen to fulfill Billy O’Brien, a neighborhood legend who seems within the movie.

O’Brien, 75, a longtime pal of the Agrapides household, has been a fixture on the Coney Island boardwalk since his teenage years, working on the rides and amusements. Usually, he works as a parking zone attendant behind Williams Sweet and helps out on the store in the course of the summer season months.

When the ‘Anora’ crew filmed on the retailer, O’Brien was plucked from obscurity to play the fictional retailer proprietor.

He instructed Brooklyn Paper he was apprehensive about taking the function at first, however after some persuasion from pals, stated, ” Yeah, alright.”

“I did it for the shop,” he stated. “It’s one of the best retailer in Coney Island. The whole lot is made right here.”

‘Anora’ shouldn’t be O’Brien’s first brush with Hollywood. In 2017, he was an additional in Woody Allen’s movie “Marvel Wheel. However for now, he has no plans to pursue additional performing.

“He’s gotten loads of consideration this winter,” Agrapides stated with fun. “Think about this summer season when followers see him. I would put up an indication on his parking shed that claims, ‘Star of Anora.’”

O’Brien joked that fame may include its personal challenges. “They’ll be haunting me all day within the parking zone,” he stated. “You’ve received to attend, I’ve received to park the automotive first. Parking attendant solely, don’t trouble me.”