Fans of the American sitcom «Friends» are flocking to the newly opened Central Perk cafe in Jeddah, modeled after the television hangout of the show's main characters.
The series «Friends,» which aired on American television from 1994 to 2004, received dozens of awards and brought Jennifer Aniston and her colleagues worldwide fame. The final episode of «Friends» aired in May 2004, and it is reported that more than 52 million viewers watched it.
The establishment, owned by Toraya Aziz and Nawaf Hashem, was planned five years before its long-awaited opening to the public on the second day of Eid al-Fitr.
But, according to marketing agent Basher Abufarea, the Jeddah version of the coffee shop is not an exact mirror image of its American counterpart.
Customers are greeted by the words «The One Where FRIENDS Meet» written on the counter, and the iconic orange couch, coffee table, and rug from the series, along with the cafe's red brick walls, complete the look.
Abufarea said: «When designing the cafe, we tried to gather all 10 seasons of the show and put them in one place.».
On the upper floor, there is a replica of the foosball table from the apartment of the «Friends» characters Joey and Chandler, and Monica's kitchen and the round table are also decorated with details, including matching dishes on the kitchen counters, a yellow window curtain, and a strategically placed package of Nestle Toll House chocolate chips, dedicated to a memorable episode.
The paintings displayed on the cafe's walls were donated by fans of the show from all over Jeddah. Aziz, an artist herself, said: «I tried to bring variety to this place by holding an art competition.».
Abufarea added: «The cafe is run by the family and two very involved people, and the drink recipes are created by Ashem himself, and his father is always by his side.".
«Aziz uses her art everywhere, and her interior design skills are evident throughout the cafe. That way, visitors can feel the love in this place.».
One of the challenges in opening the cafe was related to copyright, but they were ultimately overcome. «Our opening was also delayed, but I think every delay has a reason. On opening day, we didn't expect there to be so many people,» said Abufarea.
Customer reviews have so far been mostly positive. One fan who flew in from Riyadh specifically to visit Central Perk burst into tears of joy upon seeing the remake of Monica's kitchen.
«Watching her reaction was worth all the effort, because most of the time we received criticism over trivial things. So, it made our day,» added Abufarea.
Aziz said: «We didn't want this to be a place where people just ate and drank coffee. I want it to be a place where they have fun, and that is the meaning of the activity.».
The couple has plans to open a restaurant on the upper floor of the cafe, serving American cuisine alongside Italian dishes to reflect Joey's background.