“The Office” returns to the air on NBC Thursday, September 22, for its eighth season and first since Michael Scott left for Denver, Colorado.
For fans, one of the fun things of the faux documentary style was the way the writers wove the real-life places from Scranton, Pennsylvania, into the show’s dialogue and background from the onset of Season One. From it’s placement of menus from Scranton businesses or the Froggy 101 radio station bumper sticker into the background, the show did a good job of blurring the line between Scranton and Hollywood.
When traveling to Scranton there are several must-see places for fans. While some places – Chili’s, Hooters, and Benihana – don’t have actual locations in Scranton, there are still many real places mentioned or seen in the show by fans to visit.
I’ve had the fortune to find my way to Scranton twice although I live more than 1,000 miles away. Here are my can’t miss Scranton spots for The Office fans:
5. Alfredo’s Pizza Cafe: When you want pizza, or a sandwich, Alfredo’s Pizza Cafe is a great place to go and is a Dunder Mifflin favorite. The outdoor patio gives you a nice chance to enjoy your meal and take in some of the sites of Scranton at the same time.
Just don’t go to Pizza by Alfredo by mistake because, as we learned in “Launch Party.” from Kevin Malone “it’s like eating a circle of garbage.”
Address: 1040 S. Washington Ave., Scranton, PA.
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-Midnight,
4. Cooper’s Seafood House: Mentioned in many episodes, this restaurant is a favorite for important dinners by the employees of Dunder Mifflin. The restaurant is set apart by it’s pirate ship shaped building, complete with a lighthouse and an giant octopus. An added bonus, Cooper’s is near the finish line of the of the Steamtown Marathon, and as we learned in Season Six, Scott liked to hang out and pass out Jello shots during the race.
Address: 701 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, PA.
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-Midnight, Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m., Sunday Noon-Midnight.
3. The Mall at Steamtown: Mentioned in several episodes, this favorite of Kelly Kapoor as well as Stanley Hudson’s daughter. The mall is a good place to spend time during the day – just make sure you clean off all your beet juice before you go. The upstairs cafe court opens to a walkway over a rail track and to the Steamtown USA national park.
The mall contains the original “Scranton Welcomes You” sign as seen in the opening credits and the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company Store in the lower level. The store offers plenty of souvineers from The Electric City as well as show favorites like the “Michael Scott’s Meredith Palmer Memorial Celebrity Rabies Awareness Fun Run” shirts and “Support the Rabid” bands. The proprietor of the store will gladly chat with you about your favorite TV show – as long as it’s The Office of course.
Address: 300 Lakawana Ave, Scranton, PA.
Hours: Monday – Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
2. Poor Richard’s Pub: A favorite of the Scranton branch, Poor Richards is a great place to go if you’ve been fired and want to enjoy a drink with your friends, you need to sneak out of the Dundies early, want to keep the fun times of the Christmas party going, or wish to watch your local ad in a group setting.
Located inside South Side Bowl, Poor Richard’s doesn’t look quite like it’s TV counterpart, but is still a great place to hang out. I found this place to have a very friendly staff and patrons, who were willing to share stories about members of The Office who visit the bar on occasion. They also have karaoke nights, so if you’re lucky you might find that right person to jump in and finish “Islands in the Stream” or cheer you on while you belt out “You Oughta Know.”
Address: 125 Beech St, Scranton, PA
Hours: Monday -Friday 5 p.m. 2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday Noon-2 a,.m.
1. Penn Paper Building: Nowhere in Scranton is better for photo taking than the famous tower seen in the opening credits of the show. For the best photos, from the angle on the show, drive halfway up the hill on Vine Street and park. Then find the spot you wish to take your pictures from. The best way to find this building is take Lakawana Avenue until it runs into Mifflin Avenue – yes really. The street will turn into Vine after a turn near the building.
Address: 215 Vine Street, Scranton, Pennsylvania
Hours: 24 hours.
Sources:
Alfredo’s Pizza Cafe
Cooper’s Seafood House
The Mall at Steamtown
Poor Richard’s Pub