7 Locations that ‘The Office’ Fans Must Visit in Scranton, PA
Few television shows have resonated with audiences quite like the American adaptation of The Office. The beloved series, which brought us into the quirky world of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, has left an unforgettable mark on pop culture since its debut on NBC in 2005. With its unique blend of humor, heart, and unforgettable characters, The Office has not only launched the careers of numerous stars but has also made Scranton a must-visit destination for fans.
Despite being filmed in Los Angeles, the creative minds behind The Office went to great lengths to infuse authenticity into the show. Drawing inspiration from actual locations in Scranton and peppering the set with local props, they succeeded in creating the illusion that the series was filmed on location.
According to the Office Ladies podcast, the show even sourced local props from fliers, products, stickers, magnets, and restaurant menus, among others, to decorate the background of the office set!
Now, fans looking to immerse themselves in the world of Michael Scott and his eccentric team can do so. Prepare your itinerary as we delve into seven must-visit locations in Scranton for every The Office aficionado!
Alfredo’s Pizza Cafe
Located on 1040 S. Washington Ave, Alfredo’s Pizza Cafe in Scranton is a stop fans of the sitcom can take. In the show’s fourth season, there was a debate between Alfredo’s Pizza Cafe and Pizza by Alfredo. With the former being an actual place, the latter is fictional in terms of this argument.
Alfredo’s Pizza Cafe is where fans of the show can stop by and get a slice of pizza. Even the restaurant’s menu reminds guests that it’s “home to ‘the good pizza’ as seen on ‘The Office.’” This even includes Andy Bernard’s favorite flavor, the Margherita pizza. Alfredo’s Pizza Cafe also serves salads, wraps, burgers, subs, pasta, steak, and seafood, among others.
Cooper’s Seafood House
The place that inspired Cooper’s Seafood House can be found at 701 N. Washington Ave. in Scranton. Cooper’s Seafood House was mentioned several times on the show. However, it became a more prominent feature during Season 5’s “Business Ethics” episode. Even though the interior was filmed in Los Angeles, the exterior shots were actually filmed on location at the real restaurant.
What makes this place even more interesting is that Cooper’s Seafood House also boasts a lot of merchandise from the show. In fact, it’s the only place in Scranton that has that much merchandise from The Office. The place also has a lot of pop culture memorabilia to cater to those who might not be fans or haven’t heard of the show.
Poor Richard’s Pub
Located on 125 Beech St, Poor Richard’s Pub is often mentioned and featured in many episodes of The Office. The episodes where you can particularly appreciate Poor Richard’s Pub are “Cocktails,” “Local Ad,” “St. Patrick’s Day,” and “AARM – “ The Office’s second to the last episode, sees the employees going to the bar to watch the official airing of the documentary.
According to the Office Ladies podcast, the actual Poor Richard’s Pup is inside a bowling alley, the South Side Bowl. That’s where fans of the show can also get themselves some merchandise. If you plan on ordering something from the menu, you’ll also find Office-inspired signature drinks, including “That’s What She Said,” made out of sweet vodka and peach schnapps.
The Marketplace at Steamtown
The Office fans can head to 300 Lackawanna Ave. in Scranton for the Steamtown Mall. In the show, boss Michael Scott takes the women to the mall in “Women’s Appreciation” in Season 3. The outing included relationship discussions over meals at the food court.
It’s also where the “Scranton Welcomes You” sign is located. The sign itself is often featured in the intro of every episode. It was later moved to the mall after causing quite a disruption as fans kept stopping to take pictures with the sign.
For those who want to stay in the city for a night, there’s the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel. This hotel was referenced in the Season 2 episode “The Client.”
Penn Paper Tower
Found at 215 Vine St, Penn Paper Tower is known to The Office fans as the Dunder Mifflin Tower. John Krasinski actually did the first shot in the intros of episodes. Krasinski filmed the tower on one of his early trips to Scranton. The footage made it to the intro, becoming the backdrop of one of the most famous TV theme songs.
The family business of Pennsylvania Paper & Supply Company owns Penn Paper Tower itself. It’s also not very far from Steamtown. Eight years after The Office ended in 2013, the tower still featured the Dunder Mifflin logo.
Electric City Sign and Mural
Electric City Sign can be found at 507 Linden St. It wasn’t featured much in The Office, but it’s still a place the show’s fans must see. Fans who watched The Office closely might see this sign in the episode, “The Merger.”
It was originally built to commemorate Scranton’s status as one of the first cities in the US to adopt electricity. The sign lights up the city’s skyline at night. It might also remind fans of Michael’s “Lazy Scranton” employee orientation song too.
As for the mural, the Electric City Mural can be found at the Central Scranton Expressway.
There’s another Office-inspired mural in Scranton, specifically in downtown Scranton. Fans of the show can check out a life-sized mural of Dwight Schrute in the area. While it wasn’t featured in The Office, it’s still a great homage to the company’s top salesman.
Lake Wallenpaupack
Located at 2512 Route 6 Ste 1 Hawley, it’s where the episode “Booze Cruise” took place. The Office fans can stop by and marvel at the beauty of the lake and the view it offers. Lake Wallenpaupack also offers a trail around it for families and/or couples to appreciate the place.
A Little Background Information on The Office…
The Office aired on NBC on March 24, 2005, and had nine seasons since then until ending on May 16, 2013. Its British counterpart, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, had a three-season run. The US version of The Office was adapted by Greg Daniels, known for his work on Saturday Night Live, King of the Hill, and The Simpsons. It was also co-produced by Daniels, Gervais, Merchant, Howard Klein, and Ben Silverman.
The Office stars Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, B.J. Novak, Melora Hardin, David Denman, Leslie David Baker, Brian Baumgartner, Kate Flannery, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Phyllis Smith, Ed Helms, Mindy Kaling, Paul Lieberstein, Creed Bratton, Craig Robinson, Ellie Kemper, Zach Woods, Amy Ryan, James Spader, Catherine Tate, Clark Duke, and Jake Lacy.
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