Are you a Friends fan? Well, you are lucky because Central Perk will open its doors in New York this fall. The popular café from the NBC sitcom will have a modern and permanent version in the middle of Times Square, as Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences and Central Perk Coffee Company announced.
The new location is at the corner of 7th Avenue with Street 47, right in the heart of Manhattan. This space won’t be an exact replica of the fictional 90s coffee shop that appeared on tv for 10 seasons, but an updated interpretation. However, it will have a very special detail that every Friends fan will immediately recognize: a version of the iconic orange sofa where Rachel, Monica, Joey, Chandler, Ross, and Phoebe met to share funny and unforgettable moments. So, let’s learn more about this exciting idea.
The Central Perk Coffee Co. started somewhere else
Even though the first Central Perk Coffee Co. opened in Boston in 2023, the arrival to New York was always part of the plan. According to Paul Landino, executive of CenPer Holdings LLC (the company that operates these coffeehouses), the goal from the beginning was to expand to a city where the sitcom itself was set. Now, with the opening in Times Square, this vision is becoming true in a place he describes as ‘’the crossroads of the world.’’
The New York store will serve as the brand’s flagship location, whose design is done by New Yorkers architects Glen & Co. As it happened in Boston, the result will combine familiar elements for the fans with a modern and up-to-date touch.
Friends spirit will be there
Peter van Roden, executive vice president of Warner Bros Discovery Global Experiences, highlighted in the announcement that Friends is one of those unique tv series that keep joining different generations. For him, Central Perk was always the heart of the story, the place where the characters met and where all the connections and unforgettable memories happened.
‘’It was a space for laughing, friendship, and unforgettable moments, and is still today,’’ he pointed out. After being well received in Boston, the company has good feelings that the café in Times Square will capture the energy and global love for Friends, right in the city where everything started.
Artisanal menu and more…
Apart from being a place to have a coffee, Central Perk Coffee Co. in Times Square will offer those who visit it an artisanal menu created by the well-known chef Tom Colicchio, who won the important prize of James Beard. Fans could enjoy drinks and food in an environment designed to pay homage to the show, but with a contemporary style.
What’s more, the café will have an exclusive merchandising line, only available at the New York location. This detail makes the visit a unique experience for those who want to have a special memory of Friends.
Of course, coffee will be the protagonist. At this place you will find 6 original mixes that will be available with names that honor popular phrases from the show like: ‘’Pivot Blend’’, ‘’How You Doin’?’’ or ‘’We Were on a Coffee Break’’. These options could be purchased as ground coffee, whole beans, and compostable capsules; both at the Boston store and on Amazon.
An experience that connects with fans
The arrival of Central Perk to New York is more than a café opening, it’s the creation of a space for Friends fans to relive the essence of the show. Times Square, with its vibrant energy and international personality, it’s the perfect place to welcome visitors from all over the world who want to sit on the popular orange sofa and enjoy a cup of coffee inspired by their favorite characters.
According to Landino’s words, this project aims to offer a place where fans and friends can create their own stories in the city where the tv series was set. With a carefully designed menu, an atmosphere that mixes modernity with what’s iconic, and exclusive products; Central Perk Coffee Co. promises to become a must for any Friends lover that visits New York.