'Friends'-Themed Central Perk Coffeehouse Opens In Boston On Tuesday

BOSTON, MA — The sounds of "Smelly Cat" will be ringing out in the streets of Boston on Tuesday as the "Friends"-themed Central Perk Coffeehouse opens the doors at its first location on Newbury Street.

While Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow might not be hanging out on the orange couch, there will be coffee blends and nostalgic items suited for selfies based on the characters of Rachel, Monica and Phoebe.

And you never know who might stop by some time since Matt LeBlanc, who played "Joey" in the 1990s sitcom, is from Newton and graduated from Newton North High School.

Central Perk is set to open on Tuesday at 205 Newbury Street with hours daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

On opening day, Central Perk Coffeehouse will distribute the Chandler Bing "Can I Interest You in a Sarcastic Comment" sleeve exclusively for the entire day, in honor of recently deceased actor and cast member Matthew Perry.

Other items that fans of the TV show can cozy up to with a cappuccino include a neon sign that reads "The One With ..." as well as artwork and coffee cup sleeves with quotes from each of the six main characters.

"Our mission was to reimagine Central Perk as it would look and serve as a gathering spot for friends today, not to recreate the actual set," Founder and Principal Designer Glen Cohen said. "The space conveys the 'Central Perk state-of-mind' — a place where people make memories — fall in love, commiserate, tell secrets and share laughter."

The menu includes many "Friends"-inspired items, including Joey's Meatball Sandwich, The Moist Maker Turkey Sandwich, Grandma's Chicken Salad and Mama's Little Bakery Cheesecake.

There are also coffee drinks based on the characters, including "We Were On A 'Coffee' Break" dark roast, "Oh My Gawd!" cold brew, "Moo Point" decaf and Gunther espresso.

James Beard Award-winning celebrity chef Tom Colicchio is an investor and contributor to the menu.

In the coming weeks, the coffeehouse will extend its hours of operation and introduce a selection of beer, wine, and cordials, including a creative twist on espresso martinis.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)