A Saved by the Bell-Themed Pop-Up Diner Has Opened in Chicago
We're so excited.
If this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles secret lair Airbnb listing wasn't evidence enough that we're desperate to relive our youth through '90s TV shows, this latest pop-up should be. Some nostalgic diehard decided that Chicago didn't have enough diners that resembled that of high school sitcom hangouts, and has promptly launched a Saved by the Bell-themed diner and bar in the neighbourhood of Wicker Park.
The Saved by The Max pop-up is a replica of The Max, the diner frequented by the Bayside High students. It's a perfect recreation of early '90s bowling alley meets milkshake bar decor with an insane clashing of bright, block colours, laminex tabletops, neon lights and a jukebox. It sort of hurts our eyes, but so did lots of things in the '90s.
The pop-up will undoubtedly have patrons eating better than the characters did on-screen, with things like AC sliders, Tori's fried chicken and Max's Magical Sweet — which reportedly comes with words of encouragement — on the menu. Of course, there'll be milkshakes and floats, along with the addition of alcohol because we're all really old now.
According to CBC News, the genius behind the pop-up is local bar events manager Derek Berry, who is "a former DJ at '90s nostalgia-oriented events". After collaborating on the concept with some friends, they then went to NBC Universal and got the rights to use the show as the diner's inspiration. So this is as legit as it gets.
Saved by The Max opened on June 1 in Chicago. Unsurprisingly, they've been inundated with bookings, but you can still try your luck as a walk-in if you're in town. For more info, visit savedbythemax.com.
Via CBC News.
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