Manhattan Project: More Than Just a Hipster Hangout
NEW YORK – NY. Gen Z shocked to learn Manhattan Project wasn’t a pretentious coffee shop in SoHo. A collective wave of astonishment rippled through TikTok and Instagram this week as thousands of Gen Zers learned that the “Manhattan Project” was, in fact, a top-secret WWII initiative to develop atomic weapons—not a dimly lit, overpriced coffee shop in New York’s SoHo district where drinks are served in mason jars by a barista named Sage.
“I always thought the Manhattan Project was that café my cousin posted about,” said 23-year-old Liv Denning, a self-described “curator of vibes” and frequent attendee of brunch spots with 4.8-star Yelp ratings. “I mean, it just sounds like a place that would have oat-milk nitro cold brews and tiny scones. Turns out it was about, like… making bombs?”
The discovery reportedly emerged after a viral TikTok video where history major Maya Kingsley explained that the Manhattan Project “wasn’t actually a latte with mushroom adaptogens or a boho workspace.” Within hours, the app was flooded with shocked reactions, many expressing a sense of betrayal that such a hip-sounding name belonged to a project that didn’t involve even a single fern wall or velvet armchair.
“I just thought maybe it was one of those speakeasy-type cafes,” said Marcus Lin, 21, who frequently documents his coffee excursions on Instagram. “You know, where they hide the entrance behind a bookshelf or require a password to order a cortado. But no—apparently it was, like, scientists doing science things. No Wi-Fi, no Edison bulbs, no matcha-infused pastries.”
Other Gen Zers echoed a sense of confusion and disappointment, with many noting that the name “Manhattan Project” seemed perfectly curated for a chic, industrial café experience. “It just has that vibe, you know?” said Layla Fernandez, 22, an aspiring influencer and part-time crystal shop cashier. “Like, a place where they’d charge $12 for artisanal drip coffee and offer kombucha on tap. Not somewhere where, like, nuclear weapons were invented.”
In response to the collective letdown, several Gen Z-focused accounts have issued “history refreshers” on WWII to bring awareness that some terms are not, in fact, retro-chic brand names. Influencer Brett Michaels even hosted a live Q&A, titled “Nuclear Reactors Aren’t Wellness Pods, and Other Lessons in American History.” His followers were reportedly baffled to learn that neither Los Alamos nor the Trinity Test involved any of the latest oat-milk brands or a lounge with exposed brick walls.
Perhaps predictably, the revelation has also spawned new entrepreneurial dreams. Brooklyn-based startup couple Erin and Blake Rosenberg announced plans to open their own “Manhattan Project” café by 2025, a self-described “homage to scientific ambition” that will feature décor “inspired by atomic models, mid-century lab equipment, and wall murals of Nobel Prize winners.” The couple says they’re in talks to secure a lease in SoHo’s trendiest neighborhood and promises a carefully crafted “fission” espresso that will take 30 nanoseconds to brew.
Manhattan Project: More Than Just a Hipster Hangout Manhattan Project: More Than Just a Hipster Hangout
