Downtown Disney Gets Its First Tenants

PRESENTING 'DOWNTOWN DISNEY'

Disneyland Resort Confirms First Tenants
For Retail, Dining and Entertainment Complex

ANAHEIM, CA, October 13, 1999 - Representatives of The Disneyland Resort and of some of the nation's most innovative quality restaurant, entertainment and retail operations met Wednesday to announce the first tenants for "Downtown Disney " the 300,000-plus square-foot retail, dining and entertainment district to be built in Anaheim adjacent to Disneyland and its new theme park, Disney's California Adventure.

The new complex is part of Disney's $1.4 billion expansion of The Disneyland Resort, to be completed and opened in early 2001.

Tenants who have committed to the project so far include American Multi-Cinema Inc. of Los Angeles, House of Blues of Hollywood, La Brea Bakery of Los Angeles, Naples Ristorante and Pizzeria by Restaurant Associates of New York, the Patina Group restaurateurs of Los Angeles, Rainforest Cafe of Minneapolis, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen by The Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group of New Orleans and Y Arriba! Y Arriba! Latin dining and entertainment of Miami. Also confirmed are the Disney-branded venues ESPN Zone and World of Disney.

"We are very pleased with the quality, diversity and reputation of the anchor tenants who have committed to join us at Downtown Disney," said Cynthia Harriss, executive vice president, The Disneyland Resort. "These venues will provide an eclectic mix of experiences not only for resort guests and conventioneers, but also for local residents."

Located at the heart of The Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney will occupy a magnificent pedestrian esplanade stretching from the gates of the two Disney theme parks westward to the hotels within The Disneyland Resort. The non-gated area will create a third major element of The Disneyland Resort in the form of a lush, garden-like complex by day that transforms to a bright glittery zone at night.

"Downtown Disney will possess its own unique 'sense of place,' evoking the feeling of stepping into a garden paradise," said Timur Galen, senior vice president and general manager of Walt Disney Imagineering. "Its lush environment connects the expanded Disneyland Resort and embodies our vision for the guest experience which the entire complex will offer."

The initial Downtown Disney tenants represent a wide array of unique retail, dining and entertainment experiences. American Multi-Cinema Inc., based in Los Angeles, is a nationwide operator of multiplex cinemas and entertainment centers. Its Downtown Disney project will be a 12-screen megaplex theater, featuring stadium-style seating and the finest amenities for moviegoers.

Hollywood-based House of Blues will offer a unique twist on its blues-jazz based restaurant and club, featuring Delta-inspired cuisine and a variety of music. The chain operates seven other restaurants and clubs nationwide.

Rainforest Cafe of Minneapolis will present one of its themed restaurants, Rainforest Cafe, A Wild Place to Shop and Eat(R), to Downtown Disney guests. Rainforest Cafe offers unique food, entertainment and retail components in a setting that recreates a tropical rain forest using a combination of live and animated wildlife and other special effects.

The Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, a staple of the New Orleans' fine-dining restaurant scene, will bring its Jazz Kitchen to Downtown Disney. Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen will combine a spicy mix of New Orleans traditional foods along with hot jazz.

Los Angeles-based Patina Group, known through Southern California for the European-influenced fine cuisine served in its Patina and Pinot restaurants, will launch a unique concept for a fine dining venue at Downtown Disney. The two-story restaurant will serve the flavors of the Mediterranean in a casual yet elegant environment.

New York City-based Restaurant Associates will bring an authentic taste of Southern Italy to Downtown Disney in its Naples Ristorante and Pizzeria. The restaurant will feature an open kitchen in which diners can observe the preparation of a variety of Italian dishes, including pizza baked in wood-burning ovens.

La Brea Bakery, known throughout Los Angeles for its unique breads and pastries, will bring the bakery/cafe concept to Downtown Disney. The La Brea team is currently designing an imaginative venue for its first venture into Orange County.

Y Arriba! Y Arriba!, a unique tapas-teatro combining Latin dishes with live entertainment and dancing, is being created for Downtown Disney by a partnership led by the Miami-based Cachaldora/Currais family, whose most recent success has been Club Tropigala in Miami Beach.

Disney-owned ESPN Zone will bring the ultimate sports dining and entertainment experience to Downtown Disney. The Zone is composed of three distinct yet integrated components: the Studio Grill, serving great American grill food in an authentic ESPN studio setting; the Screening Room, offering any game on the air in the ultimate sports-viewing environment; and the Sports Arena, which challenges fans with the latest in interactive and competitive attractions.

Rounding out the first wave of tenants announced for Downtown Disney is the World of Disney. At 40,000 square-feet, World of Disney will be one of the biggest Disney shopping experiences on Earth, second only to its sister store at Walt Disney World in Florida. It will offer a vast and diverse range of Disney toys, souvenirs, accessories and collectibles in a variety of colorful and imaginatively decorated themed shopping areas.