W Village Locals Deny Plan To Bring 'Friends' Sofa To Sidewalk

WEST VILLAGE, NY — The West Village and SoHo community board denied a request to close off the sidewalk on Bedford Street to make way for the iconic orange couch seen in the TV series 'Friends.'

Community Board 2 unanimously voted against the proposal to close off the sidewalk area at Bedford and Grove streets for a 'Friends' photo-op with the famed orange couch from the show in a resolution last month.

Warner Bros. Television — which is also readying for a pop-up in SoHo for 'Friends' 25th anniversary— wants to block off the sidewalk to install the iconic couch in front of the building's exterior, made famous for being where Monica, Rachel, Joey and Chandler lived in the TV series, the New York Post first reported.

West Village neighbors and the community board fear the photo-op will draw throngs of tourists and 'Friends' sitcom lovers.

The sidewalk is "incredibly narrow and cannot contain the throngs of people anticipated for this event," said CB 2's resolution.

The board, whose recommendation is advisory, added the company's separate plans for the SoHo pop-up are already a "grave concern" because of the impacts of expected crowds.

"We have at least 400 tourists a day coming to look at that building [at 90 Bedford St.]," Bedford Street resident Rezar Skoda told the Post. "They take pictures all day and all night. I come outside and there’s 20 people hanging out on my stoop or taking a pee around the corner."

Warner Bros. didn't show up to a CB meeting last month to present its plans, the Post reported — though a company spokesperson said Warner Bros. didn't know it was slated to meet with the board.

"We were not aware of the Community Board meeting where our application was being discussed, or we would have absolutely been there to discuss the proposed event," the Warner Bros. spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the company looks forward to continuing with its sidewalk sofa plans and is excited to celebrate the series' 25th anniversary.

"We are hopeful we can still move forward with the permit and create a unique experience for fans of the series."