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Leave the cell phones at home — Gilmore Girls fans can relive the glory of Luke’s Diner, which is coming to life in coffee shops across the U.S. and Canada on Oct. 5, with five participating in the D.C. area.
To celebrate the show’s four-episode revival, Netflix is sponsoring the one-day conversion of more than 200 cafes into the series’ most recognizable dining spot. And don’t worry, there will be plenty of free coffee, just like Rory and Lorelai tend to get at Luke's.
In the D.C. area, five coffee shops are getting the Luke’s Diner treatment: Bump ‘n Grind at 1200 East-West Hwy. in Silver Spring; Grounded Coffee Shop at 6919 Telegraph Rd. in Alexandria; Flying Fish Coffee & Tea at 3064 Mt Pleasant St. NW; Qualia Coffee at 3917 Georgia Ave. NW; and Three Fifty Bakery and Coffee Bar at 1926 17th St. NW.
News of the Luke’s Diner transformation was initially released by Detroit’s Avalon International Breads. A manager for the cafe first-confirmed to Eater Detroit that Netflix was leading the charge on the nationwide event on October 5 and would be picking up the tab for 250 12-ounce cups of coffee. Locations — at least one per state — are currently listed on a promotional website, townofstarshollow.org.
The online streaming service will be providing the shops with "all the Luke’s Diner essentials" including branded aprons and T-shirts. No word yet on whether there will be flannel-clad, gruff proprietors running about, but dare to dream, Gilmore fans.
The event coincides with the 16th anniversary of the series’ original pilot air date, giving fans a fresh dose of Stars Hollow nostalgia ahead of the November 25 release of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. While the pop-ups run from 7 a.m. to noon, those hoping for a free cup and a chance to catch a glimpse of the "fun surprise under their custom Gilmore Girls coffee sleeve" should arrive early as supplies are limited.
Editor's Note: The total number of cafes nationwide has been updated.
