Are you a fan of The Office? If so, you’re well aware of the fictional town of Scranton, Pennsylvania, home to Dunder Mifflin and its memorable employees — Michael Scott, Jim Halpert, Pam Beesly, Dwight Schrute, and the rest of the office crew. What you may not know, however, is that Scranton is a real city — and it’s getting a Chili’s, set to open in the coming days.
CueThe Office theme music — Chili’s is coming to Scranton
Inspired by the restaurant’s memorable cameos in The Office, a Chili’s location is set to open in the Electric City on April 7. Designed as a nostalgic tribute to the Chili’s of 2005, the new restaurant will feature a chalk art mural created by the original Chili’s artist from the early 2000s, the brand’s signature tiles, vintage artwork, and more.
In addition to its retro design, the Scranton location will also be the only Chili’s to offer the Awesome Blossom. If that name sounds familiar, you might recall The Client episode of The Office, where Michael Scott enjoys one while he and Jan attempt to land a new client.
The return of the Awesome Blossom
The deep-fried, blossom-shaped appetizer, which was removed from menus in 2008, is making a comeback — in Scranton only. With so many nostalgic elements bringing us back to the early 2000s, don’t be surprised if you hear music from that era playing throughout the restaurant.
As a big fan of The Office, I’ve always had a trip to Scranton on my bucket list. Much like visiting Albuquerque to see iconic spots from Breaking Bad, there’s something special about experiencing locations from your favorite TV show in real life.
And now, with Chili’s finally making its way to Scranton in a long-overdue move, you can cap off your trip with an Awesome Blossom in the heart of The Office’s hometown.
If you have no travel plans to the city coming up, be sure to grab a Scranton Marg — available nationwide for $5 on April 7, as part of the celebration for the latest Chili's location.