Only 16 Rainforest Cafes Remain in U.S.; Here’s Where

At the peak of its fame, Rainforest Cafe boasted being both a popular dining spot and tourist attraction, with a total of 59 locations.

Today, that total has been whittled down to just 16 locations in the U.S.

What Happened To Rainforest Cafe?

In the past, themed restaurants were highly sought after by families seeking an entertaining ambiance alongside their dining experiences. Establishments such as Planet Hollywood and Medieval Times transformed mealtime into a unique adventure rather than just another evening out.

Furthermore, it’s worth noting that many popular restaurant chains, when it comes to their branching out, tend to focus on areas with a higher volume of tourists, such as Florida, Texas, and Minnesota’s vicinity to the Mall of America.

Rainforest Cafe is one of those.

For individuals unfamiliar with the concept, this attraction boasts a dining space filled with life-like animal figures like gorillas and elephants, which roam around while you dine. Additionally, there’s a simulated indoor storm every half hour, complete with artificial rain, flashing lights, and sound effects that mimic thunder.

As reported by Chowhound, there’s been a gradual decline in the business activity at Rainforest Cafe over the last several decades.

Where To Find Rainforest Cafes In The U.S.

Currently, you’ll find Rainforest Cafe in 11 distinct U.S. states as there are just 16 of its locations still operational nationwide.

Arizona

Arizona Mills, 5000 S. Arizona Mills Circle, Tempe

California

Ontario Mills, 4810 Mills Circle, Ontario

Florida

Disney Springs, 1800 East Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista
Disney World Animal Kingdom, 505 Rain Forest Road, Lake Buena Vista
Sawgrass Mills, 12801 West Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise

Illinois

Gurnee Mills, 6170 West Grand Ave., Gurnee

Michigan

Great Lakes Crossing, 4310 Baldwin Road, Auburn Hills

Minnesota

Mall of America, 306 South Ave., Bloomington

Nevada

3717 South Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas

New York

300 Third Street, Sheraton at the Falls, Niagara Falls

Tennessee

Opry Mills, 353 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville

Texas

5310 Seawall Blvd., Galveston
Grapevine Mills, 3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy., Grapevine
Katy Mills, 5000 Katy Mills Circle, Katy
110 East Crockett, San Antonio

Among them, the Rainforest Cafe, nestled within Disney’s Animal Kingdom, stands out as the “largest globally.” Moreover, this chain extends its presence beyond the United States, with branches in countries like Japan, France, and Canada as well.

Popular Restaurants That Have Faded Away

All-Star Cafe

The international triumph of Hard Rock Cafe led to a trend of imitation themed eateries. However, restaurants centered around trinkets proved less viable than those focused on good cuisine, and the majority of Hard Rock’s competitors faded away within a few years.

One notable example among these is the Official All-Star Cafe, a spin-off of the Planet Hollywood chain, backed by sports legends such as Shaquille O’Neal, Ken Griffey Jr., and Wayne Gretzky instead of movie stars. The first location opened in New York City in 1995, but the chain failed to thrive. (Perhaps the association of sports events with overpriced, uninspiring food might have played a role?) The chain closed its doors in 2007.

Beefsteak Charlie’s

Over time, a restaurant based in New York City grew significantly, ultimately establishing itself as a well-known institution across the Tri-State region with multiple locations. Advertisements promoting their steaks and endless salad bar became common sights on TV. The chain, along with its catchphrase “You’re gonna get spoiled!”, were humorously criticized in an early Saturday Night Live sketch that parodied a similarly named restaurant called “Pre-Chewed Charlie’s.” Despite its high profile, the chain struggled and eventually closed down entirely towards the end of the 2000s.

Burger Chef

In the initial release of “Star Wars” movies, the associated fast-food items didn’t come from McDonald’s. Instead, it was Burger Chef, a popular burger chain with around 1,000 restaurants at its peak in the 1970s, that partnered up. Despite facing decline throughout the 1980s, Burger Chef is remembered as a significant player in the fast-food industry. Interestingly enough, they introduced their version of the Happy Meal (called “Funmeal”) over five years before McDonald’s did.

Chi-Chi’s

In the 1970s and 1980s, a restaurant chain named Chi-Chi’s flourished, taking its name from one of the founders’ wives. By the 1990s, this company had expanded to over 200 locations, with Hormel utilizing their brand for a popular line of tortilla chips and salsas. Nowadays, you can still find these products on store shelves, but the restaurants ceased operations by the mid-2000s. This was not long after they were connected to a significant hepatitis outbreak, which seems to have dissuaded people from dining at restaurants with such associations. (It appears that customers generally avoid eating at establishments linked to spreading hepatitis.)

Dive!

Steven Spielberg: Renowned movie director and… sandwich creator? At one point, yes. In the 1990s, Spielberg ventured into the world of sandwiches by opening a sandwich shop in Los Angeles called Dive!, known for its underwater theme, featuring a massive yellow submarine as part of its exterior design. The submarine-themed delicacies included a soft shell crab sandwich and a “Nuclear Sicilian Sub Rosa,” which was a mystery to many. Unfortunately, despite opening a second Dive! in Las Vegas, both stores ultimately closed by the early 2000s.

Don Pablo’s

If you’ve never dined at Chi-Chi’s, it’s possible that you visited a Don Pablo’s instead. In the late 1990s, Don Pablo’s was the second largest Mexican and Tex-Mex chain in the country. However, its prosperity didn’t endure. Despite offering a variety of tacos and fajitas, the company behind Don Pablo’s declared bankruptcy in the 2000s, and the last operating location shut down in 2019.

Fashion Cafe

At approximately the same period as the All-Star Cafe, a band of high-profile models joined forces to headline a series of Fashion Cafes. Unfortunately, despite being backed by Elle Macpherson and Naomi Campbell, among others, and offering a menu supposedly spanning seven pages, the venture didn’t thrive. The New York City branch, its flagship store, opened and closed within just three years.

The Ground Round

The Ground Round, initially a spin-off from the renowned Howard Johnson’s hotel and restaurant chain, was recognized for its extensive menu of classic American dishes, complemented by a complimentary basket of popcorn upon seating at your table. At its peak, it operated over 200 locations; however, it faced challenges in the rapidly expanding casual dining market and ultimately, its corporate owners filed for bankruptcy in 2004. Although the chain is largely defunct today, a few independent Ground Rounds still exist – primarily in North Dakota. If you find yourself in the region and craving Cajun tortellini or Caribbean sizzling sirloin tips, give Google a search. I can only hope they still serve popcorn with your meal!

Howard Johnson’s

Over the years, Howard Johnson’s original owners have faced similar hardships. Although the company continues to run hotels, it was once the top restaurant chain in the nation. Sadly, its restaurant business no longer exists (the last one closed in 2022). If you’re intrigued by unusual internet finds, search for Howard Johnson’s Children’s Menu. You’ll discover some peculiar dishes they offered to children, such as the “Humpty Dumpty,” a small tuna fish salad with an egg, tomato, and lettuce on crisp lettuce, served with potato chips, roll, butter, ice cream or sherbet or gelatin, and a drink, all for just 95 cents. Delicious!

Kenny Rogers Roasters

Back in the ’90s, Kenny Rogers, the legendary country singer, became more than just a music icon – he dabbled into the fast-food scene with his Kenny Rogers Roasters. An episode of Seinfeld immortalized this, as Jerry and Kramer got hooked on their famous chicken! Though the U.S. branches have since shut down, they’re still thriving internationally, operating over 100 outlets worldwide. I guess it’s high time for a trip to Malaysia to indulge in some Kenny Rogers Roasters goodness that Kramer and Jerry missed out on!

Lone Star Steakhouse

Known for its unique traditions, this steakhouse chain is distinguished by providing a bucket of roasted peanuts to each table and inviting guests to toss the empty shells on the floor. Children find this amusing, though it might not be their parents’ favorite dining experience due to the restaurant often being quite messy. It is said that only one Lone Star location remains operational in Guam, while the rest have closed down.

This steakhouse chain stands out for an intriguing practice – they offer a bucket of roasted peanuts at every table and welcome guests to throw the empty shells on the floor. Kids seem to enjoy this playful mess-making, although their parents might not share the same sentiment when it comes to dining in a restaurant with a dirty floor. It’s said that only one Lone Star location persists in Guam, while the others have vanished into history.

Marvel Mania

Check this out. Take a peek at where Marvel stood only three years prior to the release of X-Men. This was Marvel’s inaugural themed restaurant, situated at Universal Studios Hollywood. And yes, that’s what the Hulk costume character appeared like during the grand opening. The food at Marvel Mania – a place I really wanted my parents to take me to – was rather ordinary, but the decor, featuring a life-size Iron Man armor, was like a dream come true back then. Unfortunately, the average food quality seemed to outshine the cool Marvel collectibles, and the restaurant closed before a second branch could be established.

Morrison’s

Originally, numerous Morrison’s Cafeterias were scattered across the American South, each boasting a wide variety of dishes. I came across an old commercial on YouTube that highlighted their fried shrimp, seafood au gratin, baked fillet, fried fish, fried scallops, blackened fillets, and two chosen vegetables, along with bread and butter. That’s quite a feast! In 1998, they were purchased by one of their rivals, Piccadilly, who subsequently closed most of the outlets – though there seems to be one still functioning in Mobile, Alabama. Does anyone fancy some seafood au gratin now?

NASCAR Cafe

Nothing compares to the allure of motor oil and diesel fuel aromas, it seems. Yet, despite NASCAR’s persistent fame, the NASCAR Cafe didn’t last long, not even with its premier location at the Sahara Hotel on Las Vegas Strip, complete with a roller coaster known as Speed: The Ride. Regarding the cuisine, it appears that none of the online menus show any racing-themed dishes, although the decor was truly captivating, featuring full-sized stock cars circling the walls on a track.

Old Country Buffet

What’s not to love about an all-you-can-eat restaurant? In the 1980s and ’90s, buffets with extensive menus and affordable prices became extremely popular, with Old Country Buffet being one of the most successful. Regrettably, buffets were unable to survive pandemics; they couldn’t adjust to a world dominated by food delivery, and their large serving trays transformed into potential biohazards rather than enticing attractions. Their corporate owners had to close down Old Country Buffet, as well as other chains like HomeTown Buffet, in the early 2020s.

Showbiz Pizza Place

During the 1980s, two dominant forces reigned in the pizza/arcade sector: Chuck E. Cheese, still around today (though it’s currently phasing out its iconic animatronics), and Showbiz Pizza Place, known for its unique animatronic animal band, The Rock-afire Explosion, which has a passionate cult following to the extent that it was the subject of a documentary in 2008. In the mid-1980s, Showbiz Pizza Place and Chuck E. Cheese merged, and gradually, the Showbiz brand faded away. It’s important to note that the show associated with Showbiz has been off the air for quite some time now.

2025-04-25 23:26

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