Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants

Fashion Cafe appears in the Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants list.Fashion Cafe appears in the Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants list.The Concept: Fashion Cafe mirrored Planet Hollywood. Instead of movie-star backers, supermodels promoted the business. Models were paid spokespeople, getting a share of future profits, not owners.The '90s saw fashion models become superstars. Merging supermodels and theme restaurants fit this idea. Fashion Cafe's premise mirrored Planet Hollywood.Fashion Cafe appears in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Fashion Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.The Opening: Francesco and Tommaso Buti started Fashion Cafe. Tommaso moved from Italy to New York in 1989, building contacts in real estate and celebrity circles. They opened the first location in Rockefeller Center in 1995. The Fashion Cafe gala opening used a red carpet. Attendees included spokesmodels Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Elle MacPherson, Claudia Schiffer, Gianni Versace, Donatella Versace, David Copperfield, and Stephen Dorff.Fashion Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Tommaso admitted Fashion Cafe was the brainchild.of Italian entrepreneurial brothers Francesco and Tommaso Buti. Tommaso arrived in New York City from Italy in 1989 and built connections in the city's real estate and celebrity scenes. Recognizing runway models' sudden fame, he teamed up with his brother to open the first spot in Rockefeller Center in 1995. Fashion Cafe's gala opening set up a red carpet in the spring of 1995. Attendees included spokesmodels Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Elle MacPherson, Claudia Schiffer, Gianni Versace, Donatella Versace, David Copperfield, and Stephen Dorff.Fashion Cafe appears in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Fashion Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.The Decor: The restaurant featured fashions worn by top models of the day. However, the focus never stayed on fashion.Tommaso admitted this.Tommaso admitted as he spoke.Fashion Cafe sold branded merchandise, including $28 t-shirts.Fashion Cafe appears in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Fashion Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.The Merchandise: Fashion Cafe sold much branded merchandise, such as $28 t-shirts.Fashion Cafe sold merchandise, including $28 t-shirts.Fashion Cafe appears in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Fashion Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Its Status Today: The restaurant gained popularity and opened eight locations globally. Within three years, every location closed. In 2000, the Buti brothers faced 51 federal counts each for conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering regarding Fashion Cafe's finances.The restaurant became popular, reaching eight global locations. Three years later, every location closed. In 2000, the Buti brothers faced 51 federal counts each for conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering regarding Fashion Cafe's finances.

American Girl Cafe appears in the Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants list.American Girl Cafe appears in the Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants list.The Concept: American Girl Cafe offers brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. It is billed as doll-friendly dining. The eatery made a trip to an American Girl store a more memorable outing.The American Girl Cafe offers brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner at select American Girl Place retail locations.The American Girl Cafe offers brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner.This eatery is billed as doll-friendly dining. The design aimed to make a trip to an American Girl store a more memorable outing.The Opening: The first American Girl Cafe opened at the Chicago, IL, store in 1998.The American Girl CafeThe first American Girl Cafe opened at the Chicago, IL, store in 1998.The first American Girl Cafe opened at the Chicago, IL, store in 1998.The Decor: Eateries in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are larger, somewhat frilly. Other locations are bistros and are much smaller. Special seats let diners' dolls join them at the table.Eateries in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are larger, frillier places. Other locations are smaller bistros. Special seats let diners' dolls join them at the table.The Merchandise: Only American Girl Place retailers stock this spot. It focuses on AG merchandise. Diners can take their doll to eat, or bring her to the salon or a shopping spree. Upon entering, diners are asked, "Did you bring a girl or do you need to borrow one?"Only located in American Girl Place retailers, this spot focuses on AG merchandise. Diners can usually bring their doll to eat, visit the salon, or shop. Upon entry, staff ask, "Did you bring a girl or do you need to borrow one?"Its Status Today: There are 13 American Girl Cafes or bistros operating as of 2019.As of 2019, there were 13 American Girl Cafes or bistros operating.

The Concept:Steven Spielberg made a rare mistake with Dive!. It looked like a giant yellow submarine, hosting a nautical theme. Diners got the feeling of eating deep underwater, according to the restaurant's advertising.The restaurant's advertisingPatrons could "Dive! into a fleet of gourmet submarine sandwiches. SUBstantial salads, fresh pastas, wood oven-roasted entrees, and mouth-watering desserts. Enjoy SUBlime food in a playful SUBmerged environment, with bubbling porthole windows, gauges, an underwater video voyage, and working periscope with panoramic city views." Spielberg conceived this plan in 1993, inspired by his love of the sea and underwater exploration. He and partner Jeffrey Katzenberg planned Dive!./li>li>The Opening:The first Dive! location opened in 1994 in Los Angeles' Century City neighborhood. A Las Vegas Dive! opened in 1995./li>li>The Decor:Both restaurant sites featured nautical finery. Every 45 minutes, the submarine-shaped eatery submerged for 30 seconds. Portholes bubbled, lights flashed, and submarine moans and groans filled the dining room./li>li>The Merchandise:Dive!-branded merchandise sold only about 15 percent of the LA location's sales.The LA location sold 15 percent of its sales.but it made up 40 percent of the Las Vegas site's gross./li>li>Its Status Today:Steady souvenir sales kept the Las Vegas spot open until the early 2000s. This followed the original LA site's closure in 1999./li> /ul>

ul>li>The Concept:Space travel drove Mars 2112. With a size of 33,000 feet, it became the largest theme restaurant upon opening in 1998. Owner Paschal M. Phelan called Mars 2112 a "fusion of fun and good food and fantasy."The size was 33,000 feet.The Mars 2112 restaurant opened in 1998. Owner Paschal M. Phelan called Mars 2112 a "fusion of fun and good food and fantasy."/li>li>The Opening:The New York City site opened in Times Square in November 1998. A second location opened in a mall in Schaumburg, IL in 2000.Schaumburg, IL. /li>li>The Decor:Diners ate among alien and spaceship decorations./li>li>The Merchandise:Merchandise included mostly apparel and toys with a space travel or alien theme./li>li>Its Status Today:In 2011, after the New York location famously refused to let Shaquille O'Neal in because he lacked proper dress, there was no return. The Times Square site closed in 2012, a few months after the Illinois site shut down.The restaurant refused to let Shaquille O'Neal in because he was not dressed properly. There was no going back. The Times Square site closed in 2012, a few months after the Illinois site shut down.because he wasn't dressed properly, there was no going back. The Times Square site closed in 2012, a few months after the Illinois site shuttered./li> /ul>

ul>li>The Concept:WWF New York was a restaurant, nightclub, and souvenir shop in the Paramount Theater in Times Square. The venue suited '90s America because WWF title fights could bring in up to 10 million viewers.The venue drew 10 million viewers../li>li>The Opening:WWF chairman Vince McMahon opened the venue in 1999. Pay-per-view events played, and food themed around wrestlers was offered.Vince McMahon opened the venue in 1999. Pay-per-view events played, and food themed around wrestlers was offered.opened the venue in 1999. Pay-per-view events were screened, while food themed around wrestlers was available./li>li>The Decor: The restaurant had a barricaded "cage room" and served American-style meals.The restaurant served American-style meals.. /li>li>Its Status Today:WWF New York closed in 2003; a Hard Rock Cafe took its place./li> /ul>

ul>li>The Concept: Space Aliens Grill & BarSpace Aliens Grill & Bar is the Minnesota and North Dakota version of Mars 2112. All three Space Aliens locations stay open as of 2019. These spots serve American food; barbecue is the main menu item. Mort Bank, who owns the chain with Dave and Sheila Glaser, previously ran it.It features several themed McDonald's.. /li>li>The Opening:The first Space Aliens Grill & Bar opened in Bismarck, ND, in 1997. Another site launched in Fargo in 1999. Albertville, MN, started a location in 2006. Only Bismarck, Fargo, and Albertville remain open today./li>li>The Decor:The restaurants feature alien-themed furniture and include space games for kids./li>li>The Merchandise:You canpurchase Space Aliens clothing, towels, beverage containers, spices, and sauces./li>li>Its Status Today:Space Aliens Grill & Bar continues where few '90s themed restaurants went: a successful, lasting business./li> /ul>

ul> li>The Concept:Robert Earl, a co-founder of Planet Hollywood, managed theOfficial All Star Cafe, a chain of theme restaurants celebrating sports. Celebrity athletes invested in the business, which served traditional sports food. After Planet Hollywood succeeded, Earl saw an opening in sports, the most American pastime. Andre Agassi, Wayne Gretzky, Shaquille O'Neal, and Monica Seles were investors./li>li>The Opening:The first Official All Star Cafe opened in New York City in 1995. The gala dedicated the restaurant'sCharlie Sheen Room. "He has one of the finest baseball memorabilia collections in the world," Earl toldThe New York Times./li>li>The Decor:Sports memorabilia decorated the Official All Star Cafe. Walls showed iconic items like Agassi's ponytail and O'Neal's first backboard smash. Booths looked like oversized baseball gloves./li>li>The Merchandise:The New York City location had a 5,000-square-foot store. Diners bought items from a large selection of logo clothing and other goods./li>li>Its Status Today:In 1999, the Cafe's parent companyfiled for bankruptcy, and locations started closing./li> /ul>

ul> li>The Concept:Movie producer Keith Barish created the restaurant concept, wanting a Hard Rock Cafe for film fans. Hard Rock owner Robert Earl liked the idea and pushed it further: movie stars got a share of ownership by appearing at openings staged like film premieres./li>li>The Opening: Planet Hollywood opened in New York Cityin 1991Major movie stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Sylvester Stallone backed Planet Hollywood. The event looked like a movie premiere. Schwarzenegger, Willis, Stallone, Moore, and Whoopi Goldberg supported the show. About 10,000 people lined the streets near the restaurant.Planet Hollywood appears in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Planet Hollywood is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.The Decor:Each restaurant displays movie memorabilia. Some items come from the movies of the celebrity owners.Planet Hollywood is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Planet Hollywood is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.The Merchandise:Planet Hollywood merchandise makes the chain a big source of money. They sell key rings, leather coats, sweatshirts, t-shirts, watches, and more.Planet Hollywood is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Planet Hollywood is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Its Status Today: Planet Hollywood grew past 100 locations. Despite this growth, the chain started losing money fast.After the chain's first Las Vegas casino venture failed in 1998, stocks dropped. Celebrity backers pulled out. Only nine locations remain open as of 2019.. After the chain's first Las Vegas casino venture failed in 1998, stocks dropped. Celebrity backers began leaving. As of 2019, only nine locations remain open.Planet Hollywood is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'./ul>

Rainforest Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Rainforest Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.The Concept:Rainforest Cafe lets diners eat inside a replica of a tropical rainforest. The restaurant uses foliage, animal figures, mist, and waterfalls. It serves mostly American (or Americanized) food. Steven Schussler's concept for Rainforest Cafe took shape.first took shapeas a result of his home makeover. He turned his house into a faux rainforest. He wrote in his autobiography that it held "40 tropical birds, two 150-pound tortoises, a baboon, an iguana and a bevy of tropical fish housed in ten 300-gallon fish tanks." He also bred real butterflies "to check how long they would live and if they would fall into the food."Rainforest Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Rainforest Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.The Opening: The first Rainforest Cafe opened in Minnesota's Mall of America in February 1994. Like Schussler's house, it had live animals. Within days, the wait for a table reached three hours.Rainforest Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Rainforest Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.The Decor: Rainforest Cafe plays mock thunderstorms during operating hours. The lights dim, "lightning" flashes, "thunder" rolls, and falling rain sounds play through the sound system. Landry's Restaurants, Inc. bought the cafe in 2000. They removed the live animals from the dining experience.Rainforest Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Rainforest Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.The Merchandise: Rainforest Cafe-emblazoned merchandise sells at every store location. People also buy stuffed animals, toys, dinnerware, and "exotic finds."merchandise is for saleYou can buy stuffed animals, toys, dinnerware, and "exotic finds" at every store location.Rainforest Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Rainforest Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Its Status Today: As of 2019, Rainforest Cafe has 24 locations globally.Rainforest Cafe is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'./ul>

Bubba Gump Shrimp Company is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Bubba Gump Shrimp Company is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.The Concept:The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company (BGSC) draws inspiration from the movie Forrest Gump. It is a seafood restaurant featuring mostly Southern and Cajun dishes. Many dishes carry names from characters in the popular 1994 film. The chain sells one million pounds of shrimp yearly.Forrest Gump, the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company (BGSC) serves seafood, mostly Southern and Cajun dishes. Many dishes bear names from the popular 1994 film. The chain sells , the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company (BGSC) is a seafood restaurant featuring mostly Southern and Cajun dishes. Many are named after characters from the popular 1994 film. The chain sellsone million pounds of shrimpBubba Gump Shrimp Company is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Bubba Gump Shrimp Company is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.The Opening: Viacom owns the Forrest Gump studio Paramount Pictures. They opened the first location in Monterey, CA, in 1996.Forrest Gumpstudio Paramount Picturesopened the first location in 1996 in Monterey, CA.Bubba Gump Shrimp Company is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.Bubba Gump Shrimp Company is in the list 'Craziest '90s Themed Restaurants'.The Decor:Every Bubba Gump Shrimp Company location features a nautical theme and memorabilia.Forrest Gumpmovie./li>li>The Merchandise:You can buyBubba Gump merchandiseIt includes t-shirts, baseball caps, shot glasses, and hot sauce. Get them online or at any restaurant./li>li>Its Status Today:As of 2019, 40 BGSCs operate. They show no signs of closing. Fun fact: actorChris Pratt was foundwhile waiting tables at the Maui, HI BGSC. One customer was actor/director Rae Dawn Chong, who cast him in a short film./li> /ul>