Times Square's Central Perk new home for old 'Friends'

 For 10 seasons, millions of Americans tuned to NBC to watch Chandler, Joey, Monica, Phoebe, Rachel and Ross laugh and gab about the ups and downs of life and love, often from an orange sofa at their go-to big city coffeehouse.

 Native New Yorkers and tourists alike can give it all a try for real starting Friday when the Central Perk Coffeehouse, inspired by the Gen X megahit "Friends," opens in Times Square.

The Times Square destination isn't a carbon copy of the '90s sitcom set, but that was never the goal, said Kathleen Wallis, vice president of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences, which licenses "Central Perk" to bring television into reality.

"The vision here was to create what Central Perk would look like as a real, modern gathering spot for friends today," Wallis added in an email exchange with Newsday. The cafe features "blended subtle nostalgia, like the iconic Orange Sofa ... and small Easter eggs like the chick and duck silhouette and A-to-Z bookends, with a contemporary New York cafe aesthetic. The space conveys the "Central Perk" state of mind, where people enjoy good coffee, make memories, fall in love, share secrets and have a laugh."

When eyeing their second location after Boston, the real Central Perk Coffee Co. settled on Times Square as it is "one of the most iconic crossroads in the world, a place where New Yorkers, tourists, and culture all intersect," said Aaron Constable, the general manager of the company’s Boston site.

Times Square "mirrors the spirit of the show: energetic, welcoming, and always alive with possibility," Wallis said. "Our goal is for it to be for both locals and fans and tourists ... Central Perk Coffeehouse was designed as a true neighborhood cafe, a place where New Yorkers can stop in for their morning coffee, meet a friend, or relax with a laptop. At the same time, it’s a cultural destination for FRIENDS fans from around the world."

The new Central Perk will offer six Central Perk Coffee Co. coffee blends and feature a food menu created by "Top Chef" head judge Tom Colicchio, Constable told Newsday in an email. Among the sandwiches and salads is the Tribbiani, an Italian sandwich that honors sandwich-loving Joey and that fans can only grab in Times Square. Fans will catch nods in each menu item’s name, including the Manhattan-exclusive drinks The One with NYC Matcha and the NY Relaxi Taxi Cooler.

It's unlikely that the destination inspired by the 31-year-old megahit that has been "handed down to people's children" will draw customers away from other coffeehouses in Times Square, according to Jessica Walker, president and CEO of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.

"I think it targets a different audience," Walker told Newsday in a telephone interview. "If it's bringing more foot traffic, that's good for everybody."