Rainforest Cafe
Encyclopedia
Rainforest Cafe is a themed
restaurant chain owned by Landry's Restaurants, Inc.
of Houston, Texas
. It was founded by entrepreneur
Steven Schussler
. The first location opened in the Mall of America
in Bloomington, Minnesota
on February 3, 1994. In 1997, the chain consisted of only six restaurants, all in the United States. In 1998, the plan was to build 10 additional restaurants in the United States, seven in Mexico and five in the UK over 10 years.
In 2000, the Rainforest Cafe was bought by Landry's Restaurants Inc., a company theme restaurant chain, based in Houston, Texas. To date the company owns 27 restaurants in the United States, three in Mexico, two in Canada, and one each in France, the United Kingdom, and Japan. The chain focuses on establishing a presence in larger cities and shopping malls, capitalizing on local tourism.
, including plant growth, mist, waterfalls, animatronic robots of animal
s and insects. To enhance this theme, the restaurants are populated by animatronic figures, manufactured by UCFab International, LLC of Apopka, Florida
. The star ceilings are designed and manufactured by Fiber Optic Systems Inc, located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.
Large marine aquarium
s are common in most restaurants. Automated water sprinklers and synchronized lights set to specific patterns are also featured. A simulated thunderstorm
occurs every thirty minutes, utilizing simulated rain
as well as flashing lights and high-powered subwoofer
s for lightning and thunder. There is a tree usually located in the gift shops named Tracy that talks and gives information on rainforests.
The restaurants are partitioned into several rooms by means of rain curtains that fall into basins running along the tops of partition walls and booths. The Rainforest Cafe serves food ranging from seafood, beef, and chicken to pastas and pizzas, as well as its award-winning crab dip. There is also the tradition
of yelling, "Volcano!" when somebody orders a "volcano" sundae
.
The staff of Rainforest Cafe are named in accordance with the safari theme. Servers are called Safari Guides, hosts/hostesses are Tour Guides, retail sales associates are Pathfinders, bartenders are Navigators, bussers are Safari Assistants and kitchen staff are named Trailblazers. Rainforest Cafe restaurants have a retail village, where rainforest themed merchandise is sold.
(The first three U.S. restaurants generate Disney officially $80 million in annual revenue.)
International sites
Former Locations
Theming
Theming refers to "the use of an overarching theme...to create a holistic and integrated spatial organization of a consumer venue." Often themes are derived from history, different cultures and fantasy....
restaurant chain owned by Landry's Restaurants, Inc.
Landry's Restaurants, Inc.
-External links:*...
of Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. It was founded by entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
Steven Schussler
Steven Schussler
Steven Schussler is one of the world’s most successful developers of theme restaurants, whose greatest success is the Rainforest Cafe. He is the author of It’s a Jungle in There, a book chronicling his experience building a businesses from scratch and providing advice to aspiring...
. The first location opened in the Mall of America
Mall of America
The Mall of America, also called MOA and the Megamall, is a shopping mall located in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of the Twin Cities, in the United States. It is located southeast of the junction of Interstate 494 and Minnesota State Highway 77, north of the Minnesota River and is across the...
in Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington, Minnesota
Bloomington is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota in Hennepin County. Located on the north bank of the Minnesota River above its confluence with the Mississippi River, Bloomington lies at the heart of the southern...
on February 3, 1994. In 1997, the chain consisted of only six restaurants, all in the United States. In 1998, the plan was to build 10 additional restaurants in the United States, seven in Mexico and five in the UK over 10 years.
In 2000, the Rainforest Cafe was bought by Landry's Restaurants Inc., a company theme restaurant chain, based in Houston, Texas. To date the company owns 27 restaurants in the United States, three in Mexico, two in Canada, and one each in France, the United Kingdom, and Japan. The chain focuses on establishing a presence in larger cities and shopping malls, capitalizing on local tourism.
Themed ambience
Each Rainforest Cafe restaurant is designed to depict some features of a rainforestRainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
, including plant growth, mist, waterfalls, animatronic robots of animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
s and insects. To enhance this theme, the restaurants are populated by animatronic figures, manufactured by UCFab International, LLC of Apopka, Florida
Apopka, Florida
Apopka is a city located in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,969 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2006, the city grew to 53,563. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area. Apopka is an Indian word for “Potato...
. The star ceilings are designed and manufactured by Fiber Optic Systems Inc, located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey.
Large marine aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
s are common in most restaurants. Automated water sprinklers and synchronized lights set to specific patterns are also featured. A simulated thunderstorm
Thunderstorm
A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm, a lightning storm, thundershower or simply a storm is a form of weather characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere known as thunder. The meteorologically assigned cloud type associated with the...
occurs every thirty minutes, utilizing simulated rain
Rain
Rain is liquid precipitation, as opposed to non-liquid kinds of precipitation such as snow, hail and sleet. Rain requires the presence of a thick layer of the atmosphere to have temperatures above the melting point of water near and above the Earth's surface...
as well as flashing lights and high-powered subwoofer
Subwoofer
A subwoofer is a woofer, or a complete loudspeaker, which is dedicated to the reproduction of low-pitched audio frequencies known as the "bass". The typical frequency range for a subwoofer is about 20–200 Hz for consumer products, below 100 Hz for professional live sound, and below...
s for lightning and thunder. There is a tree usually located in the gift shops named Tracy that talks and gives information on rainforests.
The restaurants are partitioned into several rooms by means of rain curtains that fall into basins running along the tops of partition walls and booths. The Rainforest Cafe serves food ranging from seafood, beef, and chicken to pastas and pizzas, as well as its award-winning crab dip. There is also the tradition
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
of yelling, "Volcano!" when somebody orders a "volcano" sundae
Sundae
The sundae is an ice cream dessert. It typically consists of a scoop of ice cream topped with sauce or syrup, and in some cases other toppings including chopped nuts, sprinkles, whipped cream, or maraschino cherries.-History:...
.
The staff of Rainforest Cafe are named in accordance with the safari theme. Servers are called Safari Guides, hosts/hostesses are Tour Guides, retail sales associates are Pathfinders, bartenders are Navigators, bussers are Safari Assistants and kitchen staff are named Trailblazers. Rainforest Cafe restaurants have a retail village, where rainforest themed merchandise is sold.
Locations
American sites(The first three U.S. restaurants generate Disney officially $80 million in annual revenue.)
- Anaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
– Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort - Lake Buena Vista, FloridaLake Buena Vista, FloridaLake Buena Vista is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. It is mostly known for being home to the Walt Disney World Resort. It is one of two Florida municipalities controlled by The Walt Disney Company, the other being Bay Lake....
– Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort - Lake Buena Vista, FloridaLake Buena Vista, FloridaLake Buena Vista is a city in Orange County, Florida, United States. It is mostly known for being home to the Walt Disney World Resort. It is one of two Florida municipalities controlled by The Walt Disney Company, the other being Bay Lake....
– Downtown Disney at Disney World Marketplace opened on August 6, 1996, about with 450 seats [1] - Sunrise, FloridaSunrise, Florida-Overview:Sunrise is a city in southwestern Broward County, Florida, United States. It was incorporated in 1961 by Norman Johnson – a developer whose World Famous Upside-Down House attracted buyers to what was then a remote area...
– Sawgrass MillsSawgrass MillsSawgrass Mills is a shopping mall operated by the Simon Property Group, in Sunrise, Florida, a city in Broward County. With of retail selling space, it is the sixth largest mall in the United States, and the second largest in Florida... - Bloomington, MinnesotaBloomington, MinnesotaBloomington is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota in Hennepin County. Located on the north bank of the Minnesota River above its confluence with the Mississippi River, Bloomington lies at the heart of the southern...
– Mall of America opened on October 3, 1994 with 295 seats - Tukwila, WashingtonTukwila, WashingtonTukwila is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The northern edge of Tukwila borders the city of Seattle. The population was 19,107 at the 2010 census.-History:...
– Westfield SouthcenterWestfield SouthcenterWestfield Southcenter, formerly known as Southcenter Mall, is a shopping mall located in Tukwila, Washington, USA. It is currently anchored by JC Penney, Macy's, Nordstrom, and Sears and owned by the Westfield Group. A Rainforest Cafe is also at the mall... - San Francisco – Fisherman's WharfFisherman's WharfFisherman's Wharf may refer to:*Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey, California, a historic fishing wharf in Monterey, California*Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, a tourist destination and still-functioning wharf, in San Francisco, California...
- Ontario, CaliforniaOntario, CaliforniaOntario is a city located in San Bernardino County, California, United States, 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire region, it lies just east of the Los Angeles county line and is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area...
– Ontario MillsOntario MillsOntario Mills is a large enclosed shopping mall, calling itself an outlet mall. It is located in Ontario, California and it is one of the primary tourist attractions in the Inland Empire. It is located across the street from the former site of the Ontario Motor Speedway. Like all other Mills... - Costa Mesa, California – South Coast PlazaSouth Coast PlazaSouth Coast Plaza is an upscale-luxury shopping center in Costa Mesa, California, USA, in Orange County. The largest mall in California, its sales of over 1.5 billion are highest in the United States...
- Tempe, ArizonaTempe, ArizonaTempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
– Arizona MillsArizona MillsArizona Mills is an indoor outlet mall in Tempe, Arizona. It is mostly owned by Simon Property Group and managed by The Taubman Company. It opened on November 20, 1997, with 6,000 parking spaces and approximately 200 retailers. It is currently anchored by outlet versions of Saks Fifth Avenue,... - Las VegasLas Vegas metropolitan areaThe Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
– MGM Grand Las VegasMGM Grand Las VegasThe MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The MGM Grand is the third largest hotel in the world and largest hotel resort complex in the United States in front of The Venetian. The MGM Grand was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in... - Grapevine, TexasGrapevine, TexasGrapevine is a city in northeast Tarrant County, Texas, United States located within the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census the city population was 46,334. The city's moniker is derived from the native grapes prevalent in the area. In recent years several wineries have...
– Grapevine MillsGrapevine MillsGrapevine Mills is a large shopping mall located in Grapevine, Texas, which is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Grapevine Mills currently totals over in size. The mall also includes a Bass Pro Shops, although not connected physically. Grapevine Mills opened on October 30, 1997 and is... - Katy, TexasKaty, TexasKaty is a city located in Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties in the U.S. state of Texas, within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area...
– Katy MillsKaty MillsKaty Mills is an outlet shopping mall in Katy, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, developed by The Mills Corporation and now owned by Simon Property Group. The mall opened on October 28, 1999 and hosts a variety of over 200 specialty stores... - Galveston, TexasGalveston, TexasGalveston is a coastal city located on Galveston Island in the U.S. state of Texas. , the city had a total population of 47,743 within an area of...
- San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, TexasSan Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
– River WalkSan Antonio River WalkThe San Antonio River Walk is a network of walkways along the banks of the San Antonio River, one story beneath downtown San Antonio, Texas... - Houston, TexasHouston, TexasHouston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
– Houston GalleriaHouston GalleriaThe Galleria, stylized theGalleria, is an upscale mixed-use urban development centrally located in the Uptown District of Houston, Texas, United States. The development consists of a retail complex, as well as the Galleria Office Towers complex, two Westin hotels, and a private health club... - Chicago, Illinois – Downtown Chicago
- Gurnee, IllinoisGurnee, IllinoisGurnee is a village in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 28,834 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 30,772 in 2005. The village borders the city of Waukegan and is considered a part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Gurnee is perhaps best known for being the location of...
– Gurnee MillsGurnee MillsGurnee Mills is an indoor mall, established in Gurnee, Illinois. It's located about halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a 40 minute drive either way, and near Six Flags Great America. It is a single-level Z-shaped mall. At of gross leasable area, it is the fourth largest mall in... - Schaumburg, IllinoisSchaumburg, IllinoisSchaumburg is a city located in Cook County in northeastern Illinois. A common misspelling of the city name is Schaumberg, a spelling which persists on some modern maps. Schaumburg is located just under northwest of downtown Chicago and approximately northwest of O'Hare International Airport. As...
– Woodfield MallWoodfield MallWoodfield Mall is an enclosed super-regional shopping mall located in the northwest Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, Illinois, United States, at the intersection of Golf Road and Illinois Route 53.... - Auburn Hills, MichiganAuburn Hills, MichiganAuburn Hills is a city in Metro Detroit, Oakland County, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 21,412 at the 2010 census. The city was formed in 1983 when Pontiac Township became the City of Auburn Hills.-Economy:...
– Detroit area – Great Lakes CrossingGreat Lakes CrossingGreat Lakes Crossing Outlets is an enclosed shopping mall, super-regional in size, located in the city of Auburn Hills, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, United States. Developed and owned by Taubman Centers, Great Lakes Crossing Outlets features over 180 stores and restaurants, a food court, and a... - Nashville, TennesseeNashville, TennesseeNashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
– Opry MillsOpry MillsOpry Mills is a super-regional shopping mall owned by Simon Property Group, formerly by its initial owners Mills Corporation and Gaylord Entertainment... - Atlantic City, New JerseyAtlantic City, New JerseyAtlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
– Trump Plaza - Edison, New JerseyEdison, New JerseyEdison Township is a township in Middlesex County, New Jersey. What is now Edison Township was originally incorporated as Raritan Township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1870, from portions of both Piscataway Township and Woodbridge Township...
– Menlo Park MallMenlo Park MallMenlo Park Mall is a two-level super regional shopping mall, located on U.S. Route 1 and Parsonage Road in Edison, New Jersey, United States. The mall has a gross leasable area of 1,232,000 ft² . Menlo Park Mall is currently owned by the Simon Property Group.-History:Menlo Park Shopping Center... - Farmington, ConnecticutFarmington, ConnecticutFarmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...
– West Farms Mall - Burlington, MassachusettsBurlington, MassachusettsBurlington is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,498 at the 2010 census.- History :It is believed that Burlington takes its name from the English town of Bridlington, however this has never been confirmed....
– Boston area
International sites
- Toronto, Canada – Yorkdale Shopping CentreYorkdale Shopping CentreYorkdale Shopping Centre is a large shopping mall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It contains over 250 stores and is located in the community of Downsview, in North York. It is the fifth largest shopping mall in Canada and also enjoys the highest sales per square foot of any mall in Canada, with...
- Niagara Falls, Canada – Niagara FallsNiagara FallsThe Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
- Tokyo, Japan – IkspiariIkspiariis a shopping, dining, and entertainment complex at the Tokyo Disney Resort in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan. Owned and operated by The Oriental Land Company, it is the Japanese equivalent of the Downtown Disney complexes at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts in the USA, and Disney Village at...
Shopping Mall near Tokyo Disney ResortTokyo Disney Resortis a theme park and vacation resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, just east of Tokyo. It is owned and operated by the Oriental Land Company with a license from The Walt Disney Company. The resort opened on April 15, 1983, as a single theme park , but developed into a resort with two theme... - London, England – Piccadilly CircusPiccadilly CircusPiccadilly Circus is a road junction and public space of London's West End in the City of Westminster, built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with the major shopping street of Piccadilly...
- Paris, France – Disneyland Resort ParisDisneyland Resort ParisDisneyland Paris is a holiday and recreation resort in Marne-la-Vallée, a new town in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. The complex is located from the centre of Paris and lies for the most part within the commune of Chessy, Seine-et-Marne....
- Mexico City, Mexico – Centro Santa Fe
- Mexico City, Mexico – Metropol Entertainment Central
- Cancun, Mexico – Plaza Forum By The Sea
- Dubai, U.A.E. – The Dubai Mall
Former Locations
- Overland Park, KansasOverland Park, Kansas-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 149,080 people, 59,703 households, and 39,702 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,627.0 people per square mile . There were 62,586 housing units at an average density of 1,102.9 per square mile...
- Oak Park MallOak Park MallOak Park Mall is a super-regional shopping mall located in Overland Park, Kansas, containing 200 stores in a covered area of . It is the largest mall in the Kansas City Metro Area as well as the entire state of Kansas, and is split into two levels and contains five department stores.It was...
(Closed in 2009) - Kowloon Tong, Hong KongKowloon TongKowloon Tong , formerly Kau Lung Tong, is an area in Hong Kong. Within New Kowloon, it is administratively divided by Kowloon City District and Sham Shui Po District...
- Festival WalkFestival WalkFestival Walk is an upmarket shopping centre in Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong owned by Swire Properties from 1998 to 2011. It was the biggest shopping mall in Hong Kong at its launch in November 1998. Festival Walk was developed jointly by Swire Properties and CITIC Pacific in 1993–1998. In 2006, Swire...
(Opened November 24, 1998; Closed in the 2000s) - Norfolk, VirginiaNorfolk, VirginiaNorfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
- MacArthur CenterMacArthur CenterThe MacArthur Center is a shopping center of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. It is majority-owned and operated by the Taubman Company.-Mall Highlights:...
(Closed in 2001) - Tysons Corner, VirginiaTysons Corner, VirginiaTysons Corner is an unincorporated census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Part of the Washington Metropolitan Area located in Northern Virginia, Tysons Corner lies between the community of McLean and the town of Vienna along the Capital Beltway . The population was...
- Tysons Corner CenterTysons Corner CenterTysons Corner Center, located in the Tysons Corner unincorporated area in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States , opened to the public in 1968, becoming one of the first fully enclosed, climate-controlled shopping centers in the Washington Metropolitan Area...
(Closed in 2007) - Westbury, New YorkWestbury, New YorkWestbury incorporated in 1932 as a village in Nassau County, New York in the United States. The population was 15,146 at the 2010 census.The Village of Westbury is in the Town of North Hempstead....
- The Source MallThe Source MallThe Mall at the Source is a shopping mall located in Westbury, New York on Old Country Road and Merchants Concourse . It has many stores including Old Navy and H&M. It also has restaurants such as The Cheesecake Factory and P. F. Chang's China Bistro...
(Closed in 2000) - Towson, MarylandTowson, MarylandTowson is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 at the 2010 census...
- The Towson Town Center - Scarborough, Ontario Scarborough, OntarioScarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
- Scarborough Town CentreScarborough Town CentreThe Scarborough Town Centre is an upscale shopping mall in the Scarborough district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Central to the Scarborough City Centre, it is adjacent to the Scarborough Centre RT station and Scarborough Centre Bus Terminal. It was constructed by Oxford Properties and opened in...