Rainforest Cafe to Drown Out Zombies at Harmon Corner

"A Wild Place to Shop and Eat" is headed to Harmon Corner and it's not the return of the long-shuttered Goretorium horror themed attraction.

Family friendly Rainforest Cafe will take over Goretorium's 3,002-square-feet entrance on the bridge level of the Harmon retail complex, plus the two mezzanines and the 11,493-square-foot, third floor, main dining space with outdoor balcony seating. From this vantage point guests will enjoy views of the Las Vegas Strip, The Shops at Crystals and CityCenter.

Created by filmmaker Eli Roth and Pure Management executive Robert Frey, Goretorium spectacularly crashed and failed under the weight of Chapter 11 bankruptcy last October, after a year of limping toward failure. It was initially hoped the fright attraction and themed club and bar would run 24 hours and be franchised internationally.

Now, a proven theme destination will take its place. The cafe chain featuring animatronic decor, fake forest ambiance, fountains and casual American fare, is owned by Landry's Inc., which conveniently also runs the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant right next door and will share the same balcony patio. Both concepts focus heavily on the retail store element of the dining experience.

Las Vegas already has a Rainforest Cafe located at the MGM Grand resort. The site has been the source of much speculation for the last couple of years. Sources revealed to Eater Vegas serious talks took place with celebrity chef Mario Batali to convert the cafe into three restaurants, including a version of his New York food emporium Eataly. The carefully considered proposal would have dramatically opened the rear of the cafe onto Las Vegas Boulevard for direct access for Strip pedestrians. And when the Rainforest Cafe lease came up for renewal last December, there were murmurs of the space being handed over to the Hakkasan Group for development.

Lake Buena Vista, Fla., is the only city where Landry's operates two rainforest cafes within close proximity. In Atlantic City, the company is currently suing the Trump Plaza Casino to allow the restaurant to remain in business independent of the casino after the Plaza closes for good on on Sept. 16.
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