Joey Merlino, who spent much of his life in and out of prison and survived multiple assassination attempts, is now focusing on his latest venture, a cheesesteak shop called Skinny Joey’s, writes Victor Fiorillo for Philadelphia Magazine.
The line to this new addition to Philadelphia’s cheesesteak scene sometimes stretches for two hours, but Merlino insists it has nothing to do with his infamy.
“We truly have the best cheesesteak in Philly,” he said. “I’ve been eating cheesesteaks for as long as I can remember. We took it to the next level. Our roast pork is also the best. Our chicken wings are also the best.”
Now 63, Merlino, who has been accused and acquitted of multiple murders, said his wildest days are over.
He also frequently calls out the inaccuracies in mafia movies and TV shows.
“Bullshit! All those movies are bullshit. Fake,” he said. “And I never watched one episode of The Sopranos. These things all make Italians look bad.”
Even The Godfather did not get it right in his book.
To this end, Merlino added that he’s never seen the third installment of the classic film, with the ideas and concepts all manufactured in Hollywood.
Read more about Joey Merlino’s life and latest venture in Philadelphia Magazine.
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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on PHILADELPHIA Today in May 2025.
