No monkey business.
New Yorkers will get their first taste of the Rainforest Cafe when the classic theme restaurant opens on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building the first week of October.
The caw caw-worthy news comes after the Big Apple opening of the beloved, conservation-focused chain restaurant — a staple of upscale malls in the late 1990s and early 2000s — was teased by ESB management in what was quickly outed as an April Fool’s joke, earlier this year.
At the time, The Empire State Building’s X account deadpanned that the “world’s highest Rainforest Cafe” was setting up shop in the iconic staple skyscraper.
As it turns out, the harmless prank caused a rumble in the jungle online — with nostalgic fans pleading to make the gag a reality.
“After massive interest and quick reactions from fans online, we are pleased to announce a limited-time pop-up with Rainforest Cafe on the iconic 86th Floor Observatory,” the Empire State Building said in a written statement.
The four-day long event will run from Thursday, October 3 through 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online — with “access to limited edition Rainforest Cafe x ESB merchandise, and special food offerings” promised. Further details were not immediately available.
Queens native and Rainforest Cafe creator Steven Schussler opened his first, dream restaurant — which quickly became famous for its animatronic apes, elephants, glowing blue fish tanks, thunder, animal stampedes, working waterfalls, and more natural, misty scenery — back in 1994 at the Mall of America, near Minneapolis.
While living in a Twin Cities suburb, Schussler, who started out slinging hot chocolate at Shea Stadium, tested his concept by building a $400,000 mock rainforest in his own home — equipped with a real waterfall, 40 actual tropical birds, two heavy tortoises, iguanas, and a baboon that had free reign in the house, according to The Hustle.
Schussler’s electric bill, in excess of $2,000 a month, was high enough to attract the attention of the Drug Enforcement Administration, which suspected him of operating a grow lab for marijuana at the time.
“I put everything into building the rainforest,” the former owner, who sold to Landry’s in 2000 after tremendous, $100M losses, told the outlet. “My balls were way over the line.”
The lush chain has been subject to considerable deforestation in recent years — 23 locations are listed as open currently. The brand is owned by Landry’s, which also operates Morton’s Steak House, Bubba Gump Shrimp, and Joe’s Crab Shack, among others.
Lately, nostalgic and new fans are rallying to save the Rainforest Cafe as the brand — led by its adorable mascot red-eyed tree frog, named Cha! Cha! — has amassed nearly 83,000 followers on Instagram.
Two full-service locations remain open in the Tri-State, after 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 lure in plenty of foot traffic from the busy boardwalk.
