Luke’s Diner Takes Over D.C. Today

Fans of "Gilmore Girls" are living the Stars Hallow life all around town—as they get revved up with free coffee.

Today only, in celebration of the cult classic’s upcoming four-episode revival on Netflix, five D.C. area locations are channeling one of the show’s favorite sets: Luke’s Diner.

The hunky flannel-clad owner of the diner on the show may have been nowhere in sight, but the next best thing was: life-size Luke cardboard cutouts, spotted at several locations. Free coffee came with blue sleeves with Luke’s logo, and some stores stuck a Luke’s sign out front as well.

At Qualia Coffee in Petworth, a line three doors down had formed for its 7 a.m. opening, and about 300 people had passed through by late morning. And while the promo ends when the house coffee runs dry, Qualia extended the freebie deal through noon.

Today’s Gilmore Girls takeover of more than 200 stores across the U.S. is similar to pop-ups found at Comic-Con in San Diego, where entertainment companies rebrand stores to push their upcoming TV shows, movies, and video games.

Lines started early at Three Fifty Bakery and still were epic by 11 a.m.

Had a great time at #LukesDiner today in DC. Excited for the return of #GilmoreGirls @netflix pic.twitter.com/h1NIgu6kWy

— Stephen Kent (@Stephen_Kent89) October 5, 2016

At Columbia Heights’ Flying Fish Coffee & Tea, about 200 customers had nabbed free java by 10:30 a.m. (and cups were running low). Just like Rory and her mom Lorelai used to gossip over bottomless coffee poured by Luke, gaggles of girlfriends gathered to do the same—this time Instagramming along the way. Some even waited in line in the morning to hold spots for others (that’s real friendship).

Stores ended up cashing in big time on the promotion, as Flying Fish had run out of most pastries and food by late morning.

Other local locations getting the Luke’s Diner treatment: Bump ‘n Grind at 1200 East-West Hwy. in Silver Spring and Grounded Coffee Shop at 6919 Telegraph Rd. in Alexandria.