Free coffee. That’s what friends are for. And that’s what they’ll give New Yorkers, starting Sept. 17.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the classic NBC show “Friends,” Warner Bros. and Eight O’Clock Coffee will open a one-month real-life version of the show’s fake coffee shop, Central Perk.
It will be located at 199 Lafayette St. in SoHo, (at the corner of Broome), and serve the city’s favorite morning brew from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekends.
Besides plugging the show’s memory, it will also showcase Eight O’Clock, a long-time staple of the coffee biz that has been somewhat overshadowed in recent years by newer, trendier brands.
Eight O’Clock has created a special Central Perk roast for the pop-up shop, and will sell it in stores around the country.
The pop-up shop will also offer a continuing stream of promotions, including an appearance by James Michael Tyler. On the show he played Gunther, the unflappable barista.
This new Central Perk will feature artifacts from the original show, including the orange couch on which selfies will be encouraged.
There will also be activities tied to Sept. 29, National Coffee Day.
“Friends” launched on Sept. 22, 1994, and became one of the most popular sitcoms in TV history.
While the six main characters on the show lived in a suspiciously luxurious New York apartment, the show was filmed in Burbank.
