Cue the sweet guitar riffs-- 1990s Fox teen hit Beverly Hills, 90210 is back, in both meta TV form and as a so-L.A. pop-up of the show's Peach Pit diner.
Wait, didn't we just hear about that Peach Pit revival a few weeks ago? That's because it was originally short-lived, scheduled for two days earlier this month that quickly sold out faster than you can say "Donna Martin graduates!" -- but now it's back with a new, improved, expanded run through September, starting Friday.
That's thanks to the same folks behind the Saved By The Bell and Good Burger pop-ups. Photo ops include the Peach Pit After Dark nightclub if you're feeling like a walk on the wild side, the Wildcats Class of '93 graduation with your own graduation caps, and more.
"We came in and made it a little bit more immersive than it was," the pop-up restaurant's Derek Berry told us as he breathlessly walked from the Good Burger location to the Peach Pit. That's because he's now unintentionally managing multiple locations simultaneously.
Berry heard about it when the studio building what was essentially a marketing activation to promote BH90210 called him. They didn't know how to run a restaurant, or really have the interest, but they offered him the chance to take over the already built-out space.
It hasn't been an easy process -- the venue hadn't been being used as a restaurant. It's taken a lot of problem-solving, according to Berry, from figuring out how to fit in another griddle to turning the back storage hallway into a kitchen.
"It sounded a lot prettier, like 'Hey, we're going to give you this fully built-out space, staff it, and you're good to go!'" Berry said. "But in reality it was like, write a brand-new menu, hire a brand-new staff, train a brand-new staff ... It was an actual brand-new opening of a restaurant."
The new version will be charging patrons, unlike the initial two-day free run -- but that also includes bringing in higher level food instead of the small catered bites from the two-day activation, as well as adding new photo op experiences.
"We did the additions of putting stuff in people can play with -- graduation hats to put on, and a photo booth," Berry said. "I think giving people five, six options for posting -- five, six options to put on their Instagram story, and Twitter, and Facebook, it's like they're your own marketing tool."
The menu is small but includes nostalgia in every bite thanks to the Mega Burger, Steve's Grilled Cheese, the Brandon (Veggie) SandWalsh and the Martin House Salad. And don't forget the Peach Pie floats. Berry promised that it was dietary restriction-friendly, despite the pop-up setting.
"You have to please the one person in the world who has something you've never heard of, but they paid a ticket, and they deserve to eat," Berry said.
They've also made sure it's ADA compliant in a way the two-day marketing activation didn't, according to Berry.
Unlike the other pop-ups they've done that have been extended, Berry said he doesn't see this one going on longer than currently planned, which makes sense given the limitations of the space. So if you want to fill your '90s 90210 nostalgia quota, get your tickets now. The options include both inside seating and spots on the patio for a little cheaper.
But if you miss the pop-up, not all is lost -- you can still find the venue that originally served as the show's exterior. That would be the Apple Pan in West L.A. The show switched the exterior shots after the first season to a Venice location, before settling on one in Pasadena.
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