
NYC’s first Rainforest Cafe to open at the Empire State Building — but there’s a catch
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.