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A "Friends"-Themed Coffee Shop Will Open This Week, and the Story Behind the Couch Is so Heartwarming

Photo credit: Instagram
Photo credit: Instagram

From House Beautiful

Last year, a Friends pop-up exhibit swept through not only NYC, but also Manchester, England, proving that even 25 years after the series premiered, the love for these six pals is never ending. While these temporary ticketed experiences gave a few lucky fans the opportunity to live out their “Central Perk” dreams of snapping a photo on the iconic orange couch, within weeks, the exhibit was packed away. For a show this popular, we deserve more than a limited-time experience.

Well, we're in luck: A new coffee shop inspired by our fave sitcom, dubbed Cup O' Joe, is slated to open on February 20 in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. Guests will be able to reserve some time on the iconic orange couch, get their caffeine fix, and listen to live music all in an environment decorated to resemble the '90s hangout of Monica, Chandler, Joey, Ross, Rachel, and Phoebe.

Cup O’ Joe owners Dena Prestininzi and Kim Hill knew they wanted to open their own coffee shop, and after floating the idea on social media, the ladies were convinced by some Friends superfans to model it after the show. "It was August (2019), we decided we wanted to open up a coffeehouse. By September, it was Friends-themed. And by the end of September, it was Friends all the way, Hill told CBS 58.

As the ladies continued to design their shop, Marcus Theaters contacted them about one of the orange couch replicas from Warner Bros, according to Cup O’ Joe’s website. The theaters was auctioning the couch off for $7,500 in order to raise money for Children’s Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Two days later, after lanching a GoFundMe, the ladies had bought the couch and raised $11,000 for the children’s hospital. Their strategy? Ask fans of the show for donations in exchange for some time on the super-rare couch. Today, the couch will continue to take reservations for 15 minute sittings in exchange for a $25 donation to the hospital.

But if you’re not interested in reserving the couch, be sure to go for the cup o’ joe. While the menu isn't modeled after the show per se, it offers a variety of breakfast, lunch, and adult beverage options. You can order cafe's specialty espresso drinks (ranging from $2.25 to $5.75), or treat yourself to a cocktail ($6), craft beer ($5), or spiked coffee ($6)! Hungry? Sink your teeth into something sweet like a jumbo muffin ($4) or break for lunch and share a pizza ($14) with friends. There's truly something for everyone here, with vegetarian, vegan, and keto options noted on the menu as well.

Cup O’ Joe also plans to have live music from local musicians, trivia nights, as well as open mic nights. That’s right, channel your inner Phoebe and treat the crowd to your own rendition of Smelly Cat! We’re so excited for Cup O’ Joe to open its doors.

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