David Copperfield's Underground - What Happened?

[BlindTyldak]

On my second trip to the World, there was a huge construction fence up on the edge of MGM with a sign that said "David Copperfield's Underground (or maybe Copperfield's Magic Underground?) - Coming Soon to MGM!". I don't remember where on the sign it said this, but it indicated that it was a restaurant. This was a good 10 years ago, and quite obviously, there's no restaurant. Does anyone know what happened?

 

[Robo]

On my second trip to the World, there was a huge construction fence up on the edge of MGM with a sign that said "David Copperfield's Underground (or maybe Copperfield's Magic Underground?) - Coming Soon to MGM!". I don't remember where on the sign it said this, but it indicated that it was a restaurant. This was a good 10 years ago, and quite obviously, there's no restaurant. Does anyone know what happened?

Back then the idea of "THEMED RESTAURANTS" was still in the "upward" cycle.

Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, Rainforest Cafe, etc. looked to be a new goldmine for restaurateurs.

Creators of "new idea" restaurants would find a "famous name" to front the joints and they would create the proper "atmosphere" to go with the personality.

Then, the "bottom fell out" of this kind of restaurant's popularity and many of these kind of restaurants that were scheduled to open... DIDN'T... and many that were already open... CLOSED.

It might have had to do with "over-saturation" or it could have been that most just had standard "bar food" at was not particularly GOOD, at prices that were not particularly LOW.

Anyway (AFAIK), there were at least two David Copperfield restaurants scheduled to open (NYC and DTD) and I don't think either ever got very far.

The DTD,West Side location had nicely "painted-out" windows that said "Coming soon" (or similar).
The location is now another store at the West Side.

I do remember going on David Copperfield's web site and reading about kid of special offerings (as far as "magic") would be there for patrons.

I really enjoy DC's magic and the restuarant MIGHT have been fun.

(DC himself, has virtually "disappeared" (pun intended) from the national spotlight these past few years, no?)

 

[unixadm]

http://www.jimhillmedia.com/article.php?id=1497

I would have definitely gone, as I am a big DC fan.

My parents took me to Atlantic City to see him for my 18th birthday.....and I have seen him 4 times since....the last time was last month here in Atlanta....sat in the first row! FANTASTIC show.

Oh well....guess it just didn't work out.

 

[VSL]

OMG - I remember seeing the sign advertising it in DTD!

Wow, I'd completely forgotten about that. It could have been good, too.

 

[cleo]

What happened? In a word, Nothing. It was originally slated to open in MGM Studios in 1999 but the idea was scrapped (along with Beastly Kingdom at AK and a few other minor attractions).

Funny to see Summer 1998 on the billboard. My Media Guide from the opening of Animal Kingdom says Spring 1999. Guess it's first disappearing act was a year early.

 

[Ears2You]

I remember when this board was outside of MGM. Around this time they closed the magic shop on Main Street in MK. I remember them saying that since they were opening a DC store/restaurant they were not going to have the magic shop anymore. I used to LOVE the magic store growing up. I wish they would bring it back since the restaurant never worked out!

 

[Robo]

I remember when this board was outside of MGM. Around this time they closed the magic shop on Main Street in MK... I used to LOVE the magic store growing up. I wish they would bring it back since the restaurant never worked out!

The Magic Shop was also a fixture and a favorite at Disneyland's Main Street, USA for years.

Steve Martin (yes, THE Steve Martin) used to work there as a young man.
Steve started out his perfoming career as a magician and used to do a bit of prestidigitaion at the DL shop.

 

[RyMickey]

Here's some info from over on Jim Hill's website: http://www.jimhillmedia.com/article.php?id=1497

Although the article says it's a preview of an upcoming Jim Hill series on the restaurant, that series never came about (Not a big surprise there since Mr. Hill never seems to finish anything he starts). Still, the article focuses on NYC's Copperfield restaurant, but it gives you an idea as to what Disney's might have been.

 

[GC&S]

Thanks for posting the sign - DH thought I was crazy this past Oct. when I was talking about the DC sign that used to be at MGM. He didn't remember it.

DH was in one of DC's acts. To this day, he will not tell me how they did it!!
We did get to meet him after the show and he was just the nicest person.

 

[iwaseeyore]

I remember reading that the group who owned the restaurants/store rights went bankrupt.