The Veterans & Friends Social Club

Mob Hangout Brooklyn, New York

This is the former Veterans & Friends Social Club.

It is located at 1468 86th Street in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.

Although the name may have suggested that it was a gathering place for army veterans, the club was actually a hub for members of the Gambino organized crime family.

It remained active throughout the 1980s, providing a low-key venue for mafia associates to meet and exchange important messages without attracting too much attention.

1468 86th Street — This Google Street View image was captured in May 2018. At the time, it was a hair salon. During the 1980s, it was run by a capo named James "Jimmy Brown" Failla (pictured bottom-right).

Like other mob hangouts of the time, the storefront was modest and blended in well with the surrounding neighborhood.

The club received significant media attention in April 1986 when Gambino underboss Frank DeCicco was assassinated by a car bomb shortly after he left the building.

That afternoon, DeCicco had been meeting with a capo named James "Jimmy Brown" Failla, whose crew operated the club.

DeCicco car bomb — On April 13th, 1986, a car bomb killed DeCicco (top-right) after he crossed the street and got into his Buick Electra. The hit was orchestrated by the boss of the Genovese family.

Property records indicate that the building was sold for $220,000 in November 1990.

Since then, it has been leased to several small businesses. It was last sold for more than $1.5 million in December 2023.

Address

The address and GPS coordinates for the club are as follows:

Address

1468 86th Street, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11228, USA

GPS Coordinates

40.611615, -74.010168

40°36'41.81"N 74°00'36.60"W

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Area Information

It is situated in a neighborhood called Bensonhurst, near Dyker Beach Park.

📍 It is roughly 550 feet southeast of the intersection between 14th Avenue and 86th Street.

Private Property Warning

This is private property, not a public space. Please respect the owners and do not enter without permission. Entry without permission is trespassing and may be met with legal or other serious consequences.

This location belongs to the following categories:

Mafia Locations New York Mafia Locations