Monday, October 15, 2012

PI Update: Evolutions of Mannequins

Because we have yet another rumor out there concerning the Mannequins building, we thought this would be a good time to recap the rumor history subsequent to the dance club closing in September, 2008.  It was common-knowledge that Disney's goal was to outsource everything on Pleasure Island to third parties.  But nothing happened post-closure and there was a dearth of internet chatter about what was coming.  But in December, 2009 the Save Pleasure Island Blog became aware that prior to Disney's public announcement that the clubs were being shuttered, Downtown Disney management had been wined and dined in Minneapolis by Steven Schussler of Schussler Creative.  Schussler was the guy behind the Rain Forest Cafe, T-REX Cafe and Yak & Yetti restaurant concepts and he had a whole stable of other ideas for Disney to try out.  So a leading rumor at the time was Mannequins would become a Backfire BBQ Restaurant featuring Orange County Choppers.  A restaurant that featured a stage for live music, it seemed ideal.  One has subsequently opened in Kansas City but the idea remains dormant here.
In early 2011 the concept of Pleasure Island being turned into Hyperion Wharf began to fizzle and the Blog was the first to report in April that the Hyperion Wharf concept was either indefinitely postponed or cancelled. (Ultimately cancelled.) But just prior to that, we saw the concept art piece above which had the Mannequins building turned into a Silk Road restaurant. We were never sure if this was a signed deal or just a proposal but the only other Silk Road in Las Vegas filed for bankruptcy.  So this never happened either.
Shortly thereafter we broke the story from a very reliable source that told us Downtown Disney management had given up on PI buildings becoming restaurants and shops and was willing to listen to the clubs being reopened, to be operated by third parties, as long as the concepts were "different".  That raised the hopes of thousands of PI fans from around the world.  But nothing has ever come from that and here we are more than a year later with all the clubs remaining idle!
So that brings us to today.  You'll recall the rumor this past summer of Disney setting aside a budget for new Mannequins (and Comedy Warehouse) cast member costumes.  That coupled with numerous rumors of clubs reopening gave hope once again because why would CM's need Mannequins costumes unless Mannequins was reopening?  But here's the rumor:  Mannequins will reopen as.....a banquet facility! Downtown Disney lost the ability to hold small meetings when they tore down Motion so this would allow them to get back into that game.  Might explain the costumes.  Might explain the electrical work that has been taking place inside. 
We're told that there is already a kitchen in place between Mannequins and 8TRAX, apparently located through that door pictured above at the lower right.  And for those that don't like this rumor, don't despair.  We're sure to have a new one to replace it in the near future!

 

15 comments:

DJMadManRay said...

Damn Mouse.....more depressing news!

Anonymous said...

Hate it.

Anonymous said...

The good thing about Conventions/Banquets having access to the building is in theory someone could buy it for the evening and potentially stage some event there. (Think how MOTiON was relatively unchanged but just had banquet tables on the floor when they used that facility)

Even Disney could even open it for a large event like the first Thursday in June "Summer Kick-Off" party.

I guess we'll see if any of that happens. At least it may be some progress, better than an empty building.

Anonymous said...

The bankruptcy of Silk Road in Las Vegas is an example of how much more stable Disney-owned venues can be. For a company that prefers to have complete long-term control it is somewhat baffling when they aggressively seek out lessees. (I know, I know... Planet Hollywood and House of Blues are just two exceptions to the above statement...)

Anonymous said...

Interesting information but hopefully this info will turn around.
I went there with freinds last Saturday, and it was pretty pathetic, because everything was closed up.
Finally the new year is only three months away, so Disney stop being dumb, and reopen the clubs at P.I. .

Anonymous said...

Hmm. . .ConGaloosh 2013 can be back on Merriweather's Island!

KUNGALOOSH!

Anonymous said...

now wait maybe you did but I do not remember any thing about and WORK going on inside Mannequins! I heard about in AC!
NOW in Mannequins! HMM?

Anonymous said...

Work seems to be goingon in both Mannequins and the AC. Will both become banquet facilities? This seems unlikely.

Anonymous said...

well the so called work in Mannequins is NEW from what I understand only security was in Mannequins! and only they claim to have seen the FLoor still in! so why didnt we hear about the workers saying any thing about it? or pics? HMMMM?
JUST ASKIN!!

KingBob said...

I don't make up these rumors, I just report them.

71 said...

On the one hand, this makes sense ... banquets took a hit when PI closed. But this is a huge venue, not sure how often they could sell it.

Anonymous said...

Looks like our favorite floor fetishist is back! Did I mention that the rotating floor is still inside Mannequins? ;)

Anonymous said...

yes I know you do not make this up Bob!

@ 71 they did banquets before the island closed! and they have other places OH like ADH! is would not be worth the up keep to do that! they will need a sound system, DJ both, Amps! and other stuff!

anon @ 701: fetishist? kinda sounds like an shot at name callin? i guess this is a loophole! LOL!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 9:31 PM: No name calling, just some good-natured fun. Thanks for being a good sport. We all miss the old Pleasure Island and the good times we had there. Would buy you a beer in Mannequins and talk about old times if I could, but sadly, Disney doesn't make that possible... Now we spend our time and money elsewhere.

Anonymous said...

Anon @ 1105! ok cool! I dont really care if it is in there I just had heard that the Floor is gone? I would love to see for my self! is all! if my source is wrong then they are wrong!