The characters of "Friends" shared many memories and cups of coffee inside Central Perk during the NBC comedy's 10-year run. Fans can share in that experience this fall in New York City.
The pop-up Central Perk coffee bar will open for a limited time in downtown New York and recreate the TV hangout spot where Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Phoebe and Joey spent much of their time, according to Entertainment Weekly. Warner Bros. Television Group (which produced the series), Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Eight O'Clock partnered to open the pop-up location that coincides with the 20th anniversary of the "Friends" premiere.
Fans can visit the decorated storefront and take photos on the orange couch used in the show. Other props will fill the space with a show-themed backdrop. The shop will feature weekly performances, including, of course, "Smelly Cat" and other songs "in the same vein as Phoebe's improvised songs," according to EW. James Michael Tyler, who played barista Gunther, also will make a few special appearances.
Central Perk will offer daily giveaways and merchandise behind the counter. Fans can test their "Friends" knowledge in trivia contests and partake in the shop's other contests throughout the month.
The coffee bar will set up shop at 199 Lafayette St. It will open Wednesday, Sept. 17 and close Saturday, Oct. 18. The shop will be open daily Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
A unauthorized Central Perk opened in Beijing, China, in 2010, and the owner Du Xin opened another location in Shanghai a couple years later. The established coffeeshop closely resembles the TV café and plays "Friends" DVDs (with Chinese subtitles).
"I'm crazy about the TV show," the owner told The Beijinger in 2010. "When I finished watching it, I really wanted to sit on that orange couch."
