Universal CityWalk

Universal CityWalk is the name shared by the entertainment and retail districts located adjacent to the theme parks of Universal Parks & Resorts. CityWalk began as an expansion of Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood, and serves as an entrance plaza from the parking lots to the theme parks. CityWalk can also be found at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japan.

CityWalk Hollywood and CityWalk Orlando have some common tenants, but their respective architectural styles are quite different. Where CityWalk Hollywood incorporates a classic modern blend of Hollywood, CityWalk Orlando is almost entirely modern in appearance.

Universal CityWalk Hollywood
Universal CityWalk Hollywood
LocationUniversal Studios Hollywood
Coordinates34.1359945°N 118.3551362°W / 34.1359945; -118.3551362
Address100 Universal City Plaza
Universal City, California 91608
Opening date
  • May 1993 (May 1993)
  • amphitheatre: June 28, 1972 (June 28, 1972)
  • theater: July 4, 1987 (July 4, 1987)[1]
  • expansion: April 7, 2000 (April 7, 2000)
Closing dateamphitheatre: September 6, 2013 (September 6, 2013)
OwnerUniversal Parks & Resorts
ArchitectJon Jerde
No. of stores and services29
Public transit accessUniversal City/Studio City Station
WebsiteOfficial website

CityWalk is separate from Universal Studios Hollywood although it does serve as an entrance from the parking lot to Universal Studios.[2] Inspiration came from the Horton Plaza according to Jon Jerde, the architecture of City Walk Hollywood tries to capture the architecture found all over Los Angeles.[3]

Universal CityWalk Hollywood is a three-block entertainment, dining, shopping promenade. It has more than 30 eateries, a 19-screen movie theater featuring IMAX, 7 night spots, indoor skydiving and more than 30 stores.

History

Designed by Jon Jerde, CityWalk opened in May 1993 adjacent to the Cineplex Odeon cinema. A $1 billion, 93,000 sq ft (8,600 m2). expansion opened in 2000. Planning done by Jerde Associates.

CityWalk's central plaza is topped by a 170-foot radial trelis designed and built by Pearce Structures[4] (who also constructed Biosphere 2). The courtyard features a leaping fountain, created by WET. A huge television monitor brought in by Panasonic, is located above the multiplex, showing upcoming Universal movie releases, music videos, and NBCUniversal promotions stands next to the giant guitar towering over the Hard Rock Cafe.

Street performers (magicians and musicians) are a common sight.

5 Towers

"5 Towers" is an interactive outdoor concert venue on Universal CityWalk, featuring a technologically advanced staging system. The stage is equipped with thousands of LED fixtures, motion capture sensors, five soaring 42-foot light tower sculptures, a massive video monitor, and a state-of-the-art audio system.

The new staging system serves as the structural artistic centerpiece for CityWalk. It features live music.

Dining
A Jamba Juice store located along the CityWalk in Universal Studios Hollywood.
Casual DiningQuick Service EateriesSnack & Refreshments
Antojito's Cocina MexicanaBlaze PizzaBen and Jerry's
Bubba Gump Shrimp CompanyLudoBirdCinnabon
Buca di BeppoPanda ExpressJamba Juice
Dongpo KitchenPink's Famous Hot DogsMenchie's Frozen Yogurt
Jimmy Buffett's MargaritavilleSubwayPopcornopolis
Johnny Rockets Restaurant & Sports LoungeTaco BellStarbucks
Karl Strauss Brewing CompanyThe Crêpe CaféWetzel's Pretzels
NBC Sports Grill & BrewVoodoo Doughnut
Samba Brazilian Steakhouse & Lounge
Vivo Italian Kitchen
Wasabi at CityWalk

Shopping
Raider Image, Universal CityWalk Hollywood
Apparel & AccessoriesCollectibles, Games & NoveltiesFood Specialities, Home, Health & Beauty
Abercrombie & FitchIT'SUGARPopcornopolis
Sephora
Sparky'sZen Zone
BillabongDodger Clubhouse Store
Hard Rock Café – Retail Store
Flip Flop ShopsHot Topic
FossilThe Raider Image
Francesca's CollectionsThings From Another World
GUESS AccessoriesUniversal Studios Store
Havaianas
Lids
Lids Locker Room
The Los Angeles Sock Market
Shoe Palace
SCENE
Skechers

Entertainment
Night SpotsExperiencesCinemasGame Show Taping
Bubba Gump Shrimp CompanyiFly HollywoodUniversal CinemaFamily Feud (2010–2011)
Buca di Beppo
Hard Rock Café Hollywood
Howl at the Moon
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
Samba Brazilian Steakhouse & Lounge

Universal CityWalk Orlando
Universal CityWalk Orlando
LocationUniversal Orlando Resort
Coordinates28.4722676°N 81.4656319°W / 28.4722676; -81.4656319
Address6000 Universal Boulevard
Orlando, Florida 32819
Opening date1999 (1999)
OwnerUniversal Parks & Resorts
No. of stores and services13
Public transit access 21, 37, & 40
WebsiteOfficial website
Universal Orlando
Theme parks
Water parks
Resort hotels
Entertainment district
The entrance plaza to CityWalk Orlando

The Universal CityWalk in Orlando opened in 1999 as one component of the expansion that transformed Universal Studios Florida into today's Universal Orlando Resort. It was built over the former Universal Studios parking lot and entrance. Guests arriving at the resort park in one of two-story parking garages then travel via covered moving walkways over Universal Boulevard into CityWalk. From there, guests can proceed into either two of the theme parks: Universal Studios Florida and Universal's Islands of Adventure.

Dining
  • Hard Rock Cafe Orlando – This is the second Hard Rock Café built on Universal property. The first café was built near the Psycho house, Bates Motel, E.T. Adventure, and Fievel's Playland. Although the first café was considered to be one of the largest in the chain, the company closed down the restaurant to reopen in an even bigger facility and alongside Hard Rock Live in the CityWalk section. The old Hard Rock Café building was demolished in October 2011.
  • Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
  • Antojito's Authentic Mexican Food (formerly Latin Quarter in 1999)
  • Starbucks
  • Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, inspired by the 1994 film Forrest Gump (formerly Motown Cafe in 1999)
  • Cinnabon
Current Hard Rock Café at Universal Studios Florida

Entertainment
  • Universal Cinemark at CityWalk, previously operated by Loews Theatres until January 26, 2006, when AMC Theaters merged the Loews Theatres chain, and previously operated by AMC until 2018.
  • Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom
  • CityWalk's Rising Star (Karaoke Club featuring Live Band and Backup Singers & Dancers) – opened April, 2008, replacing CityJazz.
  • The Groove
  • Hard Rock Live, a separate performance venue adjacent to the Hard Rock Cafe
  • Red Coconut Club (Formerly Decades Cafe in 2005)
  • Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre, a live show featuring Blue Man Group (Formerly Nickelodeon Studios, which was not considered to be a part of CityWalk).
  • Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Live bands take to the restaurant's stage to perform every evening.
  • Hollywood Drive-In Mini Golf – A miniature golf course harkening back to 1950s era drive-in movies. The facility has two different and intricately themed courses: "The Haunting of Ghostly Greens" and "Invaders from Planet Putt-Putt". Opened in March 2012.

Shopping

Former outlets
  • NASCAR Cafe
  • Kiddie Carousel
  • NBA City
  • Element Skateboards
  • Emeril's Restaurant Orlando
  • Family Feud Live
  • Fresh Produce
  • Island Clothing Co.
  • Fossil, Inc.
  • P!Q

Universal CityWalk Osaka
Universal City Walk Osaka, Japan

Dining
  • Red Lobster
  • nolboo
  • Ganko
  • Shinobuan
  • Inaba Wako
  • Shabu Sai
  • YAKINIKU KARUBIN CHAMP
  • FUGETSU USA
  • Gottie's BEEF
  • Pommenoki
  • Fujin Raijin RA-MEN
  • Kamakura Pasta
  • Kobe Motomachi Doria
  • Moana Kitchen
  • Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
  • Hard Rock Cafe
  • Kushiro Monogatari
  • BISTRO 309
  • T.G.I. Friday's
  • AEN TABLE
  • Kyoto Katsugyu
  • Daikisuisan Kaitensushi
  • MOS BURGER
  • FUNFUN
  • POPCORN PAPA
  • Moomin Stand
  • MOMI&TOY'S
  • 551 HORAI
  • PIZZA NAPOLETANO
  • Kineya Mugimaru
  • Romaken
  • ST-MARC CAFÉ

Shopping
  • EDION
  • NOSTALGIA MUSEUM
  • ROCK SHOP
  • Little Osaka
  • LAWSON - convenience store chain
  • Matsumoto Kiyoshi - drug store chain
  • JUMP SHOP - Weekly Shōnen Jump official shop with character goods
  • claire's
  • maimo
  • Gap Factory Store
  • Boushiya Flava

Other
Takoyaki museum at Universal City Walk Osaka
  • Takoyaki museum (Takoyaki Dining)
    • The Original Takoyaki Tamade, Osaka Aiduya
    • Takoya Dotonbori Kukuru
    • Osaka Amerikamura Kougaryu
    • Abeno Takoyaki Yamachan
    • Juhachiban
    • Naniwa's Specialty Ichibirian

[5]

References
  1. Hayes, Dade; Bing, Jonathan (2004). Open Wide: How Hollywood Box Office Became a National Obsession. Miramax Books. pp. 315–7. ISBN 1401352006.
  2. SMITH, DOUG (1993-05-25). "Celebrating L.A. Icons : Universal CityWalk Is for Real--Almost". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  3. NELSON, JIM (2000-04-24). "The Real Mastermind Behind CityWalk". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-12-09.
  4. "Peter Jon Pearce site – Building Systems Developments – other projects".
  5. "English & Chinese Floor Map".
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