No monkey business.
New Yorkers will get their first taste of Rainforest Cafe when the classic themed restaurant opens on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building the first week of October.
The news worth watching comes after the opening of the beloved, preservation-focused restaurant chain — a staple of upscale malls in the late 1990s and early 2000s — was teased by ESB management in what was appears quickly as an April Fool’s joke. , earlier this year.
At the time, the Empire State Building’s X account revealed that the “world’s tallest Rainforest Cafe” was setting up shop in the iconic flagship skyscraper.
As it turns out, the harmless joke caused an uproar in the internet jungle – with nostalgic fans begging for the prank to come true.
“After massive interest and rapid feedback from fans online, we are pleased to announce a limited-time Rainforest Cafe pop-up at the iconic 86th Floor Observatory,” the Empire State Building said in a written statement.
The four-day event will run from Thursday, October 3 to October 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online — with the promise of “access to limited-edition Rainforest Cafe x ESB merchandise and special food offers.” Further details were not immediately available.
Queens and Rainforest Cafe creator Steven Schussler opened his first dream restaurant – which quickly became famous for its animatronic monkeys, elephants, glowing blue fish tanks, thunder, animal messes, working waterfalls and landscapes more natural and hazy – in 1994 at the Mall of America, near Minneapolis.
While living in a Twin Cities suburb, Schussler, who started throwing hot chocolate at Shea Stadium, tested his concept by building a $400,000 rainforest in his home — complete with a real waterfall, 40 tropical birds , two heavy turtles, iguanas. , and a baboon who had free reign in the house, according to The Hustle.
Schussler’s electric bill, over $2,000 a month, was high enough to attract the attention of the Drug Enforcement Administration, which suspected him of operating a marijuana cultivation lab at the time.
“I put everything into building the rainforest,” the former owner, who sold Landry’s in 2000 after heavy losses of $100 million, told the paper. “My balls were way over the line.”
The lush chain has been subject to significant deforestation in recent years – 23 sites are listed as currently open. The brand is owned by Landry’s, which also operates Morton’s Steak House, Bubba Gump Shrimp and Joe’s Crab Shack, among others.
Recently, nostalgic and new fans alike are rallying to save Rainforest Cafe as a brand – led by its adorable red-eyed frog mascot named Cha! Cha! — has amassed nearly 83,000 followers on Instagram.
Two full-service locations remain open in the Tri-State, following significant closures in the region over the years.
A Menlo Park Mall location was given a nod in the 2009 Kevin James comedy “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” — while a Rainforest Cafe in Atlantic City continues to draw plenty of foot traffic from the busy sidewalk.
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Image Source : nypost.com