Rainforest Cafe, a classic theme restaurant, will be opening on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building during the first week of October, giving New Yorkers their first opportunity to experience the restaurant.
The news that is worthy of a caw caw comes after the management of ESB teased the opening of the well-known chain restaurant that focuses on conservation in the Big Apple earlier this year. This restaurant was a fixture in upscale malls during the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, it was quickly revealed that the tease was an April Fool’s pun.
When the news broke that the “world’s highest Rainforest Cafe” was going to open its doors in the iconic staple skyscraper, the Empire State Building’s X account was quick to deny the statement.
In a written statement, the Empire State Building announced, “We are pleased to announce a limited-time pop-up by Rainforest Cafe on the iconic 86th Floor Observatory.” The announcement came after “massive interest and quick reactions from fans online.”
The event will take place from Thursday, October 3 through Friday, October 6, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. all throughout the duration of the event. Tickets are available for purchase online, and attendees will be able to take advantage of the limited edition Rainforest Cafe x ESB merchandise as well as the special food offerings that are promised. It was not immediately possible to obtain any additional information.
Steven Schussler, a native of Queens and the creator of Rainforest Cafe, opened his first dream restaurant in 1994 at the Mall of America, which is located close to Minneapolis. The restaurant shot to fame almost immediately due to its animatronic apes, elephants, glowing blue fish tanks, thunder, animal stampedes, working waterfalls, and other natural, misty scenery.
While existence in a Twin Cities suburb, Schussler, who originated out slinging hot chocolate at Shea Stadium, investigated his idea by building a $400,000 mock rainforest in his own home — stocked with a genuine waterfall, forty genuine tropical birds, two heavy tortoises of iguanas, and an African baboon that was allowed unrestricted access to the house, as reported in The Hustle.
Schussler’s electric bill, which was more than $2,000 per month, was high enough to attract the attention of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), which suspected him of operating a grow lab for marijuana at the time. Schussler’s marijuana grow lab was suspected to be operating at the time.
According to the former owner, who sold the business to Landry’s in the year 2000 after suffering enormous losses totaling $100 million, “I put everything into building the rainforest.” “My balls were way over the line,” the speaker said.
A significant amount of deforestation has occurred in the lush chain over the past few years; there are currently 23 locations that are listed as being open. In addition to Morton’s Steak House, Bubba Gump Shrimp, and Joe’s Crab Shack, Landry’s is the owner of the brand. Landry’s also operates other restaurants.
Fans, both old and new, have been banding together in recent times to save the Rainforest Cafe. This is due to the fact that the brand, which is led by its adorable mascot, a red-eyed tree frog named Cha! Cha!, has over 83,000 followers on Instagram.
In spite of the significant closures that have occurred in the Tri-State area over the course of the years, there are still two full-service locations that are operational.
While a Rainforest Cafe in Atlantic City continues to attract a significant amount of foot traffic from the busy boardwalk, a Menlo Park Mall location was brought up in the comedy “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” that was directed by Kevin James and released in 2009.