Parker as Sarah Sanderson in Hocus Pocus 2 .
TOIL AND TROUBLE
HOW HOCUS POCUS 2 CAST AND CREW HAUNTED LOCAL RESTAURANTS AND FOOD BUSINESSES .
PHOTOGRAPHY ( OPPOSITE PAGE ): WOLF MATTHEWSON ; ( INSET ): COURTESY OF JOHN RYDER . ( THIS PAGE ): © 2022 DISNEY ENTERPRISES , INC .
Stoneacre Brasserie in Newport was paid by the production to shut down for five nights during the filming so cast and crew could use the restaurant as a crash pad and dressing room . “ We all thought that it could have affected business , and it could have deterred people , but they were more curious to see what was going on than anything else ,” says Stoneacre Hospitality co-owner Christopher Bender . “ Thirty years later , it was interesting to see the three witches in the same room , sitting around this very table .”
Adds co-owner David Crowell : “ Washington Square was amazing to see . It was an all-out Hollywood production right outside our front door .” stoneacrebrasserie . com
Figidini in Providence became a favorite spot for Hocus Pocus star Sarah Jessica Parker , who returned repeatedly to dine with her family , including husband Matthew Broderick and son . “ Having SJP and many of the production crew dine at Figidini was one of the best experiences we ’ ve ever had ,” says Figidini co-owner Kara Cecchinelli . “ SJP was so fascinated by our kitchen , she asked to get a closer look and engaged in conversations about how we make Neapolitan pizza .” figidini . com
Sin in Providence created a cake and cupcakes for Bette Midler ’ s birthday , in the form of Winnie ’ s trademark curly red hair and face in frosting . Someone on the production team contacted the bakery to see if they would make a mayonnaise-based cake , a recipe from the ’ 40s that uses mayo in place of oil and the eggs . “ We discovered it was Bette Midler ’ s birthday on Dec . 1 , and so we of course said yes !” says owner Jennifer Luxmoore . “ They wanted the cake to be flowery and pretty and not really Hocus Pocusthemed . But then they also added cupcakes , which we did in the Winnie face theme .” eatwicked . com
The production borrowed Great Northern BBQ ’ s trailer for scenes . “ They were filming down the street at the Armory and spotted our food trolley ,” says owner Dan Becker . The trailer was re-decaled with the business name Ghoulishly Good , devilishly delicious treats . “ They were very easy to work with and exceptionally careful with scheduling and returning the trolley in the same condition they received it ,” Becker adds . gnbbqco . com
The Friskie Fries food truck started out in the background on set in Newport but then was converted to an actual prop and filmed on Atwells Avenue and at the Armory . “ Something that I started only a while back is now on the set of a Disney movie . That ’ s insane ,” says Friskie Fries co-owner Randy D ’ Antuono . “ I hid in the truck a few times during filming . I actually have a few pics of Sarah and Bette looking in the window , I ’ m sure saying , ‘ Who is this weird guy lurking in the truck ?’” friskiefries . com
Based on social media postings , it seems Sarah Jessica Parker and Bette Midler were fans of Persimmon on the East Side . Reportedly , they both visited during filming , with SJP going back several times because her son is also a student at Brown University . persimmonri . com — J . C .
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