The compressible orange couch; the classic, green arm-chair; the untrackable cups of coffee; and even our fuzzy, white haired friend Gunther all appeared to be an ideal life for twenty-year-olds in the city, locked within the perimeters of our boxy, prehistoric televisions in 1994. Only two decades later could this fantasy become an actuality.

For a month only, a pop-up Central Perk coffee shop, in the New York Soho area, containing all of those objects, will be brewing coffee and selling souvenirs in honor of the 20th anniversary premiere of everyone’s favorite TV show: Friends.

Many Staples students hope to get in by the close of the shop on Oct 18. and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It has been rumored that Gunther, the coffee shop owner in the show, will make an appearance on the final day, as he did at the opening.

“Oh. My. God.” (Janice Goralnik)* Time is running out!

Jenna Patterson ’16 had the opportunity to visit the coffee shop on Rosh Hashanah and see “how [all the friends characters] are doin’.” (Joey Tribbiani)*

“I went to the coffee shop because it’s another way to connect to the show and characters. It was really cool to have it all feel so real and tangible,” Patterson said.

The coffee shop is stacked with memorabilia from the show, including Joey’s big white dog, Ross’ science boy comic, Monica and Chandler’s wedding rings, Phoebe’s guitar, and Dr. Drake Ramoray nametag, and much, much more. Crazy. “I know!” (Monica Geller)*

“I would love to go because I love Friends and that is the hangout of all the characters on Friends,” Samantha Sheppard ’16 said.

Whether you are a Friends fanatic and want to buy a Friends coffee mug, take a picture on the orange couch, or you are in undeniably believe Gunther is “your lobster” (Ross Geller),* Central Perk will have a profound effect on everyone, as it did for the Friends in the real show.

“The show is so special because everyone can relate to or at least admire the characters. We are all a little crazy like Phoebe or uptight like Ross or nerdy like Chandler or neurotic like Monica or fun like Rachel,” Patterson said.

And isn’t that a Perk?

*Quotes from actors in the show.