If there was a television props department that did its homework, it was the team on NBC’s “The Office” (fans of “The Office Ladies” recap podcast know how often propmaster Phil Shea, who died in 2023, gets lauded there for his attention to detail). The creative team of the cult favorite show ensured that many of the restaurants and settings name-checked on the program were actual businesses in Scranton, Pa., where the show takes place (about 125 miles from Philly).
Some, like bar hangout Poor Richard’s and shellfish restaurant Cooper’s Seafood, are featured as plot points; others just received offhand mentions or might have their fliers appear on a break room refrigerator. Not every restaurant on the show had a real-life counterpart (some places, like Hungry Fox where Pam and Roy have a final lunch together, are actually in California where the show was filmed) or a realistic connection to Scranton (while chains Hooters and Benihana are responsible for iconic “The Office” moments, neither have a Scranton outpost). Regardless of caveats, the show really put a lot of effort into realistic world-building.
Sadly, some of these restaurants (shoutout to Farley’s Pub, Jitterz, Anna Maria’s, Niko-Bella, Tink’s, Brixx’s, and Brunetti’s) have gone out of business since “The Office” went off the air in 2013. But hardcore “The Office” fans can still make a pilgrimage to Scranton and visit many of the places highlighted on the show. Did we miss one? Shoot us a note at philly@eater.com.
