Bankrupt - Steven Spielberg's Dive! Restaurant

[@anlicsceadu]

Here in Tokyo, they now do themed restaurants in the form of "pop-up" shops. The big ones currently are an Alice in Wonderland tea house and a Stranger Things diner (which just opened up, and requires reservations 7 days in advanced...and they're always booked solid). So they're not completely gone over here. They've just realized the life expectancy of these places is short, and capitalize on it by making it a "get it before time runs out!" type of deal. Rather brilliant honestly!

[@psyche234]

That’s pretty cool.

[@matthewbowen5841]

Great idea! Since business generally seems stuck on growing sales every 'x' time period, yet sticking with a definite theme limits that, this seems like a typically logically elegant Japanese solution.

[@JSkyGemini]

Sugoi!

[@TheVampireFishQueen]

I seen a Detective Conan pop-up restaurant/shops at Osaka station a while ago and other ones such as Persona and Digimon in Akihabara.

[@Godzzbinzz]

Makes a lot of sense. You probably wouldn’t want to go twice but definately would try it once.

[@rossnwirth]

This is the most 90's restaurant ever! It looks like a Nickelodeon cafeteria!

[@hayleywaalen2612]

With Nickelodeon themed foods.

[@syxepop]

The only things lacking were SpongeBob (wasn't created until '99) and some SLIME!

[@jtlovescodelyoko]

A Nickelodeon Themed Luby's

[@chasenip2]

If you say “I don’t know” do u get slimed?

[@rossnwirth]

@@chasenip2 just don’t ask for water!

[@Seathal]

@Bright Sun Films I am from Barcelona and I distinctively remember going to that restaurant when I was a kid with my father. It was around 96-97 and it was located in Maremagnum shopping centre, at the port. I remembered it as soon as I saw your thumbnail. I didn’t know it came from the US. Thanks for the nostalgia trip.

[@olkarlsgarage]

I was in the comments looking for a comment like this. Awesome to see someone got to go.

[@joshuaayres8932]

What I love about this series is you do learn. About the famous and the not so famous. All done in a high quality, well researched manner.

[@BrightSunFilms]

Thanh’s so much John, that’s exactly the idea of the series!

[@Forrest_O.]

I agree

[@gabrielgaitan4856]

Is there going to be a another episode of Bankrupt? If so, there are some companies I think it would be great: Toys R Us Thomas Cook Airlines Lloyd Aereo Boliviano Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Enron Blockbuster Marussia Hispania Racing F1 Team Lotus F1 Team Voyager Digital

[@booliganshootingsports]

I haven't even watched this yet, but oh man, I miss this place. Vegas was my hometown, and I remember we were planning on going here for dinner after a high school dance (2002). We rolled up and I remember being CRUSHED that this place was closed. The whole experience there was so much fun, the colors, the kinetics of the place, even the food was good. I remember them being so proud of their variety of dips that they served with dishes. This was a core memory for me and one that I didn't think I'd be recalling in 2022.

[@wokewokerman5280]

...ironically, no amount of theme can replace high quality food, great service, at a reasonable price....

[@cl7510]

I walked into the one in Las Vegas long enough to grab a couple books of matches. I was there on vacation. I still have the matches in a box in a closet.

[@9r0t0typ3]

Born 1996 and Raised in Vegas. Never heard of this place ever. Just like MGM theme park. Didn't know about that til last year

[@booliganshootingsports]

@@9r0t0typ3 oh man, MGM was a trip. I actually had a birthday party there around 1996. The “Journey to the center of the Earth” ride was a very interesting dark ride, and the boat ride was awesome.

[@rosera99]

i reaaalllly hope themed things like this come back as trends. surely someone will notice our generation's interest in this stuff they have to

[@lelagrangeeffectphysics4120]

Please, no fucking Isekai Hentai Anime restaurant for the love of god

[@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley]

@@lelagrangeeffectphysics4120 Japan already has that on lock and they smartly only run them as limited time promotions for a new series or movie...or a meme ("pen, apple, apple, pen"...a silly video that got a whole drink cafe in Japan for a bit, lol). If they did something similar like that in America with a little cafe like Japan, that could be cool. Just make the food better...that's the biggest complaint I hear. Overpriced, mediocre food.

[@lelagrangeeffectphysics4120]

@@BewareTheLilyOfTheValley Wasnt the pen apple pen restaurant awful and gimmicky and playing the song 24/7 making the clerks want to reenact 15th century japan?

[@MidnightToker24]

Check out some rugged love motels with themed rooms. And bring some take out there for dinner. Don't sit on the floor or bed or beside the bedroom jacuzzi though til after dinner.

[@carvahaunter122]

True, Rainforest Cafe’s even been doing better because of TikTok and nostalgia.

[@YurTypicalVegasMom702]

I’m a Vegas native and as teenagers it was common to spend weekends roaming The Strip. I remember taking my Sadie Hawkins date to the Dive in 1997. I don’t think I ever ate there again. Now as an adult, I avoid The Strip at all costs!

[@ZooomaCW]

Kinda like NYers avoid Times Square, not at all costs, though, because so many theaters are located there and if you don't go to the theater at least once in awhile, you ain't a NYer, well, at least not a cultured one.

[@lelagrangeeffectphysics4120]

Well ive never been to the Strip so id guess its probably A: Clogged with tourist up to high heaven B: Plenty of grifters and swindlers each one trying to fish your purse and C: its basicly a gambling hot podge which chews anyone fool who thinks they can make their tourists there, i cant think of how many unsavoury types wash out in the street filled with grief and anger over their losses

[@kyle857]

@@lelagrangeeffectphysics4120 The strip is fine. Think more seedy underbelly of society and more Disneyworld with alcohol.

[@DeadmanInc336]

This past May was my first time in Las Vegas in roughly 20 years. I wasn't even 18 yet last time I was there with my family. I expected the Strip to be crowded with tourists but I did not expect the amount of homeless people, panhandlers, and grifters along the Strip. I'd say it's worse than here in San Diego but at the very least the homeless here will leave you alone for the most part. Not in Vegas. There were a few times where my friend and I got some fast food to go on Fremont Street and right away we had homeless people or panhandlers asking us for money or even asking us to buy them some food. It was definitely not my favorite part. Any tips or advice on how to avoid them or when they're out less often?

[@lelagrangeeffectphysics4120]

@@DeadmanInc336 so basicly my hipothesis B in other words its filled to the brim with homeless people and beggars... not sure if they all come from vegas per say, my guess would be that it USED to be very atractive to gamblers high and low and if they had money to burn on gambling they had money for charity... or to fund their next meeting at the dealer... and since COVID hit Vegas like a truck high on several iliicit substances the well has dried up and most high gamblers now stay inside the casinos and hotels instead of risking of getting robbed trying to engage in the street life... might be a dificult situation to flip around.... anyways those are my guesses only what about you

[@JoshSmith-xd5fl]

I just love 90's tacky themed restaurants. I love the architecture of the buildings, like planet hollywood buildings, this and hard rock cafe buildings.

[@maxmccullough8548]

You know the old hard rock cafe in Myrtle beach SC (the Egyptian pyramid one) is now an ancient Egyptian indoor mini golf place, it's more fun as mini golf. Though it's no Mount Atlanticus.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Orlando FL is full of them, 60% fail or close within 4yr.

[@scarredheart7610]

Disneyland Paris is the place for you

[@jtstacey83]

The issue is I think the idea was more significant than the food they served. A $12 upscale sub was expensive back then in the mid-90s; it's considered expensive now. If he wanted to serve subs, the theming and location scale needed to be thought out better. If it had been a seafood-themed restaurant maybe then you could get away with the price, but this is before the idea of fast-casual had taken hold.

[@mattbosley3531]

Have you checked the prices at Subway recently? A $12 sub is not at all expensive today.

[@jtstacey83]

@@mattbosley3531 and that's why Subway is closing stores and sales are down. Factoring in inflation $12 in 1995 equals $23.33 today so that was one expensive sub.

[@CowboyLuigi]

Thinking more about this, the subs' prices could be halved and the focus on seafood would have kept it thriving. Now whether it would be more catered to adventurous tastes or more comfort tastes would be up to the restaurant. I think Dive had plenty of potential, though there could be a better way to present it. Maybe name it "Captain Nemo's" or something?

[@ginog5037]

@@jtstacey83 It was overpriced then and to be honest wasn't that good but the atmosphere was cool...

[@derealized797]

I remember what weed used to cost in the 90s. 1 oz was like $100. So 1/4 lb was $400, and it wasn't the best in the world but it definitely did the job. The more expensive stuff was more of an occasional thing.

[@alikaalex]

I remember when the Century City restaurant’s dive sequence was concluding, the audio effects included the sub crew using the periscope. A crew member asked, “What do you see?” And then the sequence would conclude with a segue back to the standard piped-in music, but the first song to play would include “I see” in the first few lyrics (i.e. “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone…”, “I see a bad moon rising”, etc.). I always thought that was a cute effect.

[@AdboyD-jf6uc]

I can remember seeing this place in Barcelona in about 1998, down at the waterfront from memory. Had no idea about the Spielberg connection though. I recall it not being very busy even then.

[@Anamnesis]

If you had asked me which famous director might come up with a theme restaurant about deep sea diving, Spielberg is not the name that springs to mind. I'd have thought James Cameron.

[@TheBigExclusive]

James Cameron is wise enough to realize that a majority of people don't like the theme idea of eating in a cramped submarine. It's not exactly appealing to normal people.

[@DMalltheway]

Jim Cameron prefers to invent better cameras than failed restaurant ventures.

[@tmajcan94]

Whenever you open any kind of business, especially a restaurant or bar, don't call it "Dive" lol. Great stuff Jake!

[@sunshine3914]

Dive bar hits, tho.

[@ZGryphon]

It was the '90s--they were almost certainly trying to be Ironic.

[@TheHOBBIES20]

Drive it! 🚘😉

[@hicknopunk]

I was thinking this too

[@paedahe4975]

They should have called it “Nose Dive”…

[@madamhummingbird]

I've been to the Dive location is Vegas during the mid 90's. The theme experience was cool and the subs were tasty. I remember the sub fountain in front of the restaurant spouting water every few minutes. If you stood to close to the fountain you'd get sprayed with water. Not such a bad thing during days/nights hanging in the hot desert heat.

[@NathanTarantlawriter]

Unless it was hot dog water.

[@taliwalt5332]

Dive was right next to AMC movie theaters. I used to go there with friends all the time. We'd see Ross (from Friends) almost every weekend. Good memories.

[@2Bluzin]

I remember this place! Worked right there in Century City when it opened. As a young architectural designer there was much discussion around it. Basically, themed retail, hotels and restaurants were popping up as the next best thing to get people to open their wallets with glee. It was kind of disruptive at the time if you consider what else was around. The problem came with most of these investors like Spielberg had no idea how these business actually work and how low the profit margins typically were. Themed spaces are very expensive to build out because everything is custom and unusual. Yes, being close to Hollywood made it easy to tap into available talent and prop studios but nothing about it was cheap. Movie budgets even back then were very different from a build out of a restaurant or retail store. Even with higher than normal priced food, it was not even close to recovering the cost to build the space in the first place. Counting on merchandising to make of the difference was a flawed business plan from the start.

[@waltciii3]

Exactly. Dive should have been in Hollywood not Century City to tap that tourist money. Nobody living near CC (West LA, Beverley Hills, Westwood) buys that kind of merch. I could imagine having a $500 Dive jacket and the best case is people think I work there.

[@EyreAffair]

Great idea for a theme park restaurant, not so much for an independent restaurant chain. I could see "DIVE!" being revived at Epcot, SeaWorld, Volcano Bay, Epic Universe, Islands of Adventure, or Animal Kingdom, for example, much like how other aquatic-themed restaurants and attractions are at these parks already.

[@TekindusT]

Wow, the blast from the past has been real on this one! The video thumbnail brought me back to my childhood, seeing that weird submarine stuck at the wall of the Maremagnum mall in Barcelona. We used to stroll around the area with my family, and still do that when I’m visiting. I have a very very vague memory of dining there, but I was a little kid. They closed shortly after, but the submarine was still up on the wall for a few years. No water would flow down the “cascade” after the whole thing was closed/abandoned making it look even more weird.

[@HeyKim0012]

This unlocked a memory. I remember hearing about this place way back then and never giving it another thought until now.

[@QuimdaAldeia]

Man.... I found your channel 5 days ago ... To BE honest i have been watching almoust ALL YOUR VIDEOS since then ... 4h per day straight ! Keep going !!!

[@Noizemaze4]

Lol i found this channel back in 2017 ish and have been watching since then ~ very informative and interesting, a bit sad at times but very nostalgic

[@kathryncoffey8961]

I'm kinda surprised it wasn't a Yellow Submarine/Beatle themed restaurant. I mean, it probably could have been one for Halloween or April Fools day, but I guess when I see a submarine that's yellow, I'd be a little miffed if it wasn't Beatle-related. Maybe it's just me. Still, it sounded like a cool concept

[@allieknorr5917]

I think that would do well tbh. I would go!

[@dragon_ninja_2186]

Just because it has a yellow submarine doesn’t mean it has to automatically be Beatles. Cool for a one time thing, but that’s it. Besides not gonna make much money since they would have to pay the Beatles.

[@ZooomaCW]

It's just you. I'm not surprised it wasn't Beatles themed just because it had a yellow sub.

[@allangibson2408]

Michael Jackson had the Beatles copyrights…

[@rattyeely]

A Beatles-theme restaurant would be cool, but it's a little too close to what the Hard Rock Cafe already has. It could totally work as a Hard Rock Cafe spinoff tho

[@paulhenryxray]

Nice to see my kitchen isn’t the only one with the cat hair mod. We went with the silky black fur on a white quartz countertop. Really pops, especially under the pendant lights.

[@dejesus360]

When I was in high school, I took a tour of the LV restaurant during the construction. My dad installed the hydraulic elevators for people to get to the 2nd floor. I remember the submarine theme was pretty cool at the time, but like everything else in LV, things get old, get demolished, and becomes the next big thing.

[@complimentaryham4066]

Love coming back to watch some of these older videos. best channel on KZbin

[@kevintennant7701]

This emobies my love of and sadness (now that it's gone) that was the 90s. Big, bold, in your face and flamboyant decade that seemed to put out a party atmosphere in everything it produced. But like all things grand, they don't last forever. Sadly it was such a great decade that it tainted these newer somewhat subdued and borning decades. But KUDOS Jake for exciting me once again with iconic and memorable videos of times gone by! Maybe an idea is for you to do a documentary on a decade like the 90s!

[@doktormerlin]

The nightclub that followed the Barcelona closure actually still used the submarine theming. The club was called "Sub 34.3" and they had their own submarine with which you could dive into the port bay of Barcelona. It however also is closed nowadays

[@A·c·h·i·l·l·l·e·s·Last·Stand]

I feel like this restaurant would of been a cool "once-off" visit, it would of been stuck in peoples memories as that cool, trippy place, but nothing more than that.

[@beautybaker8542]

Its perfect for Gatlinburg /PF or Branson. That is where any of these super theme places can live.

[@ernestod6731]

I m from Barcelona and I went, when I was 13, to DIVE Barcelona. It was ubicated in Maremagnum (the restaurant area near the sea). My parents invited my brother and me to dinner for my birthday. It was a lovely day. I have watched this videos searching what hapenned with DIVE Barcelona becasuse I was there long time ago. It was espectacular!

[@EDMLyfe]

This restaurant reminds me of nascar cafe. I was only 2 when I went to the one in mrytle beach. They only lasted until 2006 besides Las Vegas which lasted until 2011. The one in Orlando was remanded but still nascar themed before just becoming sports themed. The one in pigeon forge was left standing with all all the theming inside until 2019 when everything was auctioned off and the building demolished. These chains are super interesting

[@jimthar17]

Nascar Cafe in Orlando is now a Dave And Busters. It's on International drive here. The merchandise trucks that were inside the restaurant are now at the Funspot theme park in Kissimmee.

[@golvic1436]

I remember this one. The food was pretty good if I remember correctly and the atmosphere was pretty interesting. The only mistake they made is they picked the worst location in the 90s to put a theme restaurant. They should have put it near one of the theme parks.

[@JamesLawner]

I love learning about old restaurant chains that I never knew existed.

[@kyliethelittlespider-mangirl94]

Me too

[@RankingTheMouse]

I would've loved to experience this experience in person, but it honestly completely makes sense why it didn't work out. Especially with all of the "affects" not lasting.

[@mariebelladonna437]

Yeah. I totally see both sides, too. It looks fun, and really interesting. With Spielberg involved, the effects HAD to be top notch. And I would love to have eaten there, at least once. But at the same time, it must have been a nightmare to clean and maintain all that decor. Electronics were really expensive at the time, too. And the theme restaurant market was oversaturated. Plus, there's the location issues. I'd also like to add that it would have been, of course, the exact opposite of a relaxing dining experience. And, for someone like me, with ADHD and/or Autism, etc, it would have been especially overstimulating, a total sensory overload just waiting to happen. Especially if said person was already tired and overstimulated to start with, like after, say, a long day "touristing", lol. I might still go. But I'd be done for the day after that, and ready to go back to my hotel room and crash. I mean, I'd expect that anyway, at places like Disney, or even Vegas. They're all themed and crazy stimulation everywhere, anyway. So a place like Dive! would fit right in. But just on a random street corner? It wouldn't be my first choice for dinner, either. So, yeah. There's a lot of reasons it, and others like it, didn't work, or fell out of fashion. And I totally get them all.

[@mmasque2052]

I ate at the Dive in Las Vegas way back. Fancy location, standard Denny’s-level food.

[@EmpressTiffanyOfBrittany]

Holy fuck those interiors are goddamn amazing, I would hang out there all the damn time. It's a shame it was poorly managed and suffered because of the loss of popularity of themed restaurants...

[@BrightSunFilms]

Right??

[@davidpalmer9780]

I don't think it was poorly managed. It was the lack of patronage mostly due to location is what I got from the video.

[@EmpressTiffanyOfBrittany]

@@davidpalmer9780 Perhaps I'm biased but what would I give a darn about location XD perhaps it's certainly niche, not many people are gonna look at a nautical-themed restaurant and think "I need a submarine-themed submarine sandwich diving into my mouth"

[@tavern2468]

You have no idea how happy I am to see a video about this because I literally googled this restaurant a few weeks ago I couldn’t even remember the name at first and there weren’t even that many pictures once I figured out what the name was it wasn’t that much information but there was a location in Las Vegas at the fashion show mall and I ate there as a kid.

[@mattrost2574]

Outstanding presentation! Bravo!

[@Robert-jz7hq]

This is awesome. As a kid, this must have been one of the coolest places I went too. I begged to go to Planet Hollywood and Dive for my birthdays growing up. Great memories, thanks for the video!

[@matthewludivico1714]

Seems like this restaurant would be a perfect tourist attraction in the right location.

[@cgimovieman]

I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s, was really into both Hard Rock and Planet Hollywood, and was so influenced by Steven Spielberg and movies that I chose film and television production as my career. But I honestly have almost zero recollection of this place. I very VERY vaguely remember hearing mention of it in the early 2000’s. Probably in some DVD featurette in an interview with Spielberg very briefly making reference to it. But other than that, really nothing. But even in the 90’s, I’m not sure that I’d have been drawn in. A submarine themed restaurant? I understand the idea, but it just doesn’t seem like that would have enough drawing people in, and I’m kind of surprised that Spielberg did too. I’ve lived in Orlando for 24 years now, and even in a place like this I don’t know that it would have survived.

[@jourdanball1112]

I’ve actually been to the Barcelona Dive! Back in the 90’s I was on vacation with the parents and we went to it. I don’t remember much but a few images but I do remember loving it and making my parents take me back a couple years later!

[@alexcain6085]

When I was a kid, I got to go to Europe for 2 weeks and we spent a good chunk of time in Barcelona. We ate at Dive a couple times while we were there since me and my brother had such a fun time. It was right on the water so the theme felt even more fitting. The intermittent submarine dive experience had us confused the first time though. With the less than ideal audio quality, the recorded voice calling out "Prepare to dive!" sounded more like "Prepare to die!". A bit unsettling.

[@akidim13]

I hope he sees this comment, any chance you took a picture there or inside ?

[@elcarmi]

Thanks KZbin for allowing us to enjoy series like Bankrupt. Exquisit content.

[@johnlosangeles]

I went to the Century City location a few times. The fries were amazing. At the time unusually presented in a paper cone suspended in a metal holder and served with your choice of dipping sauces which I seem to remember could have been an aioli. The wait was behemoth for a weekend. Nothing like the "dive" announcement during lunch/dinner and the bubbling of the water as the submarine dove deeper.

[@waltciii3]

The fries were copies of Benita's Frites from 3rd street promenade in Santa Monica. Belgian style fries. They opened in 1990 I think they closed in 2000 or when 3rd street renovated again.

[@Maniac536]

Ate at the Vegas place in 96. Loved it so much. The opening line on the menu, written by Steven S, began “The idea for The Dive started when I was hungry.”

[@jimmyneutron1276]

Can you do a video on the closed east town mall in Knoxville Tennessee it has an interesting story. Keep up the good work!

[@jenodonovan-uc2nl]

My husband was the Corporate Executive Chef that opened Las Vegas and Barcelona! I can tell you it was great! We still have gear and menus and lots of pics!! It was awesome at the time!!! Food and service were top priority!

[@tenbitcomb]

I went to Dive with my family when I was a kid and never forgot! It was colorful, immersive, and the food was pretty good. Especially the fries in a cone with pesto sauce! The periodic sound effect of the submarine also was memorable. It's sad this restaurant didn't last. When it was at its best, it was very well done.

[@asystole_]

"Immersive" - I see what you did there!

[@sophistiq8ted]

I loved visiting this restaurant when I was growing up in LA

[@calebpeterson1095]

I love to see these in my inbox! The BSF made a new video makes my week.

[@machinismus]

AAAAA I love how 90's the decor is!!!!!

[@JL0ndon]

Oh my god! This is crazy- 2 days ago i was trying to google a restaurant i went to as a kid that was like a ship with porthole windows and this popped up in my recommended. I am literally freaking out, this was it! I remember this place so well!

[@AVAUSTRALIA]

Used to go to the Century City location quite a bit as I grew up not far from there. Was a cool experience

[@stormydavis8546]

The number one problem with most of these theme restaurants was that the food was always so terrible. The second problem with these themed restaurants was that they always started with loser mega cities like Los Angeles and New York instead of heavily tourist areas like Las Vegas or Orlando Then the third mistake they made was trying to put them everywhere rather than make it a special occasion place that you only find in certain places

[@paulhenryxray]

So true. I remember the first time I ate at Rainforest Cafe. Cool restaurant but would’ve been better off stopping at McDonald’s on the way there

[@romigithepope]

Exactly. You need to put these restaurants in areas where people are already looking for an experience.

[@psyche234]

Orlando would’ve been the best place for a restaurant like this, we love gimmicky restaurants like this. I feel like if this was put in at Universal’s city walk, it would be a success.

[@ZGryphon]

@@romigithepope And not across the hall from the Bell Atlantic Mobile store in the Burlington (Mass.) Mall, which was where the only Rainforest Café I ever saw was. Back in those days, any trip to the cellphone store was at _least_ an hour for some reason, so that stupid "please approach the elephant" announcement is burned into my brain despite the fact that I never went into the restaurant itself.

[@marylivingstone9815]

I didn’t realize New York was a loser city with no tourist activity.

[@Joypyf]

Please cover more of these themed restaurants!!!

[@andrethib]

I've lived about a 10-minute walk from Century City Plaza since the mid-90s; we went to Dive! a couple of times, the food was okay but nothing special. the theming was fun but once you'd seen it once or twice, there really wasn't any reason to go back unless you were taking out-of-town guests.

[@ginog5037]

True, In-N-Out Burger still rules no matter how many times you go...lol

[@lamenteaffilata]

I have a bachelor degree in cultural heritage (history and history of art) and you can't understand how grateful i am for your videos! You're helping to keep memories of the pop culture and the contemporary side of history. I hope you get to keep making these well researched videos, thank you.

[@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164]

"bachelor degree in cultural heritage" Yea, I'll bet that's winning piece of paper. Student Loan paid off yet? What do you make a year?

[@lamenteaffilata]

@@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164here in italy we don't have student loan! We pay university taxes (the highest for each year could be 3000€ but i paid around 1800€ for two of the four years i attended because i had a scholarship for the remaining two). As i said, my main exams were about history and history of art but i studied also archeology and literature, for example. The goal of the course i attended was to train people in order to protect and pass on our past, while looking to the future. english is my second language, i hope i explained it well enough.

[@oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164]

@@lamenteaffilata Good for you, stay in Italy!

[@jacobasuncion3132]

What an awesome channel to watch every Friday while doing homework 🙂👍🏽

[@BrightSunFilms]

Thanks!

[@jacobasuncion3132]

@@BrightSunFilms np :)

[@crazytrainsthegameofloco-m870]

Wow great video. I thought I was the only person who remembered this restaurant. In the 90s I worked for the production company who helped make the port hole video footage playing at the tables. Amazing experience seeing this concept come together as I lived right down the road from Century City. Moved out of state in ‘97 and always wondered what brought about the chain’s demise. Thanks for the ride down memory lane.

[@mahatmarandy5977]

Never even heard of this before today! Having lived near the Hard Rock in Orlando, when it shuttered, I found myself wondering what became of all the art inside. Most of the display items were crap, of course. A right-handed guitar signed by left-handed Kurt Cobain, a leather jacket Elvis may have once worn, meh, who cares, you know? But the art commissioned for the location was pretty neat. Most notably a really high quality painting in the domed ceiling of various dead rock stars (And Keith Richards) looking down from heaven. I mean, what happened to that? Where could it possibly go? Seems a shame to swing a wrecking ball through it. There was also a big segment of the Berlin Wall set up in back to give people something to gawk at while waiting in lines outside. What became of it? Did some rich guy buy it and haul it off, or did they just dump it in Lake Eola, or what? The other Hard Rocks had unique features, too, and it seems a shame to lose them all.

[@bombygriz]

I’m not sure what location you’re referring to, but the one at Universal is still open and has the Berlin Wall section.

[@LucyLive91]

@@bombygriz the old one closed and they opened a new hotel inside Universal when they did the Islands of Adventure/City Walk expansion in the 00s

[@GMRay739]

A right handed guitar signed by left handed Cobain sounds a bit like a misprinted stamp. The fact that it's wrong turns if into more of a collectors' piece! I'd love to own that!!

[@mahatmarandy5977]

@@GMRay739 ...and I'm sure he really did sign it, but they were hanging this thing on the wall as though it was his, when obviously someone just handed him it backstage or at a guitar warehouse appearance and said, 'sign this' and he did.

[@mahatmarandy5977]

@@bombygriz Huh! Well I'm happy to hear that! I don't live in Orlando anymore (obviously) but it was closed for a fairly long while around 1993, and when I went back in about 2002, it was shuttered again, so, I admit it, I assumed it was just gone now. I'm an idiot.

[@daniellemederos4115]

I remember going to this restaurant, in Century City, a lot when I was a kid. I was just explaining the restaurant to my kids and was happy to find this video!

[@montypythonevanh]

How have I never heard of this!? The 90s kid inside me that grew up obsessed with scuba diving, and the Titanic (historically speaking anyway, my mom wouldn't let me watch the movie till I was a teen. Thanks alot, French painting.) I would have had a nerd-gasm over this restaurant!

[@sunshine3914]

Was wondering how I never heard of it either, but now I remember working double shits throughout the 90s.

[@brandocalrissian3294]

Growing up in Vegas in the '90s was a great time and place to be a kid. I remember the dive very well or the wcw nitro grill. There was tons of stuff like this around town and it was great!

[@euphan123]

His other restaurant: “Schindler’s Dish”, was also a hard sell.

[@jazzbo13]

XD

[@cap6741]

Hahahaha

[@jonhelmer8591]

Yeah, I saw the menu!

[@thehunterkirsch]

I remember going to the Las Vegas dive at the fashion show mall when I was younger I loved seeing the water fountains

[@Robert3377]

I knew this was real!! I remember seeing as a kid once, and never saw it again. I had a hard time finding any information on this place, but was sure it wasn’t a dream

[@jimbeam6788]

I was in the Century City location for dinner once, used to live near there. Memories!

[@BertLensch]

Wow... this is a concept I had never heard of. Definitely something that could have worked had it been more closely aligned with theme parks and other tourist attractions to help keep a steady flow of new customers wanting to see it. But sadly, this is what happens when you chase the market rather than study it and meet the need where it is needed.

[@cnh7262]

Sir, you put out a video right when I need it most….Ty.

[@opraiderman904]

Love this series!

[@staceyd2076]

I saw the Dive in Century City and then did eat at the Vegas location. I remember they had sweet potato fries which was a big deal back. Thanks for making this video and doing what you do!

[@lex_uss]

I love these videos, thanks for the content!

[@BrightSunFilms]

Thanks so much!

[@otakubullfrog1665]

The problem with restaurant theming is that the cost increases exponentially as the immersion increases linearly. This is why plenty of restaurants still have themes today, but tend to stick to the left side of the curve by getting most of the way there with decorations, uniforms, background music and other affordable elements and not going the last mile with costly practical effects, building architecture, etc.

[@Dozenspeed]

Well thanks again for showing me a place I never heard about before, and kinda wishing I went to it once.

[@messiahsbythesackful6267]

No matter your content, hearing your voice and sharing in your editorial and production skills is always a point of joy in our otherwise dismal times. Thanks! Be well and safe everyone! 🖖🐢👣 [Also....] I love the waterfall windows. Nothing is as calming as water sheeting on glass.🙂

[@md.m.8372]

I think it's fair to say "dive was unsuccessful, ultimately sunk"

[@haveagreatday3664]

Oh my god! I went there as a kid! That place was awesome! So sad to see it go. Wish these highly themed restaurants would make a comeback these days

[@skylinegtr4045]

I never knew he made a restaurant. Weird area for him to dip into

[@deejaye2647]

They'll make money any way they can.

[@LucasLarrahona]

I used to go alot with my parents here in Barcelona!!!

[@malcolmdenver4623]

Ever heard of Jimmy Buffett's "Cheeseburger in Paradise" restaurant chain? That would make a good story for Bright Sun Films.

[@marylivingstone9815]

I visited the one in Key West decades ago. They all gone now? New York has a Margaritaville hotel now. I also remember seeing Jimmy Buffett retirement communities.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Thank you for sharing this..

[@hpotter29]

I actually ate at the Barcelona location. I don't have any proof, but I promise was there. It was located on prime real estate, at the end on La Rambla just on the Mediterranean shore. I went in knowing that the place was supposed to be fully themed. I was disappointed though because (perhaps wisely) there were huge open windows looking over the real ocean. These took away from the concept that you were supposed to be traveling to different places.There wasn't much theming going on except for some brass piping. The food was sub par and ultimately I felt guilty for not eating in a more Barcelonan restaurant. My memories are a bit hazy but I can try to answer questions.

[@jenodonovan-uc2nl]

Yes, it was there! My husband opened it and many years later we were living in Massachusetts, our daughter had a substitute Spanish teacher who sold my husband produce in that Barcelona location! Small crazy world!

[@hpotter29]

@@jenodonovan-uc2nl That’s a crazy coincidence! Did your daughter learn Spanish with a Catalan influence? 🤣 You and your husband must have some interesting stories about the venture. Feel free to share! I remember being disappointed that the restaurant dropped any pretext of full immersion (I’m a theme park super geek for theming after all) but I found the sunny view really relaxing!

[@randyrauch]

I used to go to lunch at the dive on the Las Vegas strip in the 1990s. It was nice inside and the food was good. This was just before the Las Vegas strip overbuilt itself with restaurants. Now there are too many and they all can’t survive.

[@jtlovescodelyoko]

Well For Jeffrey Katzenberg This Restaurant wasn't the biggest epic fall he ever made financially That will forever be: Quibi Quibi: Jeffrey Katzenberg's Superstar Limo

[@Americandragonrider333.]

I love the Bankrupt series, it’s always very interesting! Bad location for the restaurant, that explains its failure. Location, location, location one of the key components of good development!

[@otaking3582]

I only knew about this place's existence due to being parodied on The Simpsons with a jetliner.

[@DecemberNames]

Thank you for another great video

[@bluekewne]

4:38 having "video screens" in a bar for video poker/slots is quite normal here in Nevada; you'll be hard pressed to find a bar here that *doesn't* have one. (Also a trip to see the old video poker machines that predate the current "Game King" touch screen ones)

[@ZGryphon]

I remember passing through Nevada on a cross-country road trip in the '90s. Went to the bathroom during a fuel stop and there were video poker machines in there. Like, inside the gas station bathroom itself, next to the hand dryers.

[@GatorRay]

I remember when I found out the inside of the Shell gas station that was around the corner from the house I used to live at (I live in an apartment complex now for the record. And for a second note said gas station used to be a Chevron location) added slot machines. And I found it really stupid.

[@GatorRay]

@@bluekewne Okay.

[@VeNoMsEpItApH]

I loved this place as a kid.

[@ArtiePenguin1]

Maybe this themed restaurant would have a better chance if James Cameron were behind it. He is the creative person that comes to mind when I think about anything sea themed, not Steven Spielberg.

[@MZ412BABY]

WHAT A TREAT! THANX JAKE!

[@Wnick1996]

Not going to lie, I would have loved to eat at that place just for the atmosphere alone

[@JSkyGemini]

I have to be honest and say I would have joined you there for the same reason.

[@ashleyshim2078]

@@JSkyGemini same

[@arfriedman4577]

In 1995, when we were in LA, CA, we went to Dive twice. We loved it. We found it by accident driving around LA. I was not expecting the submarine sounds and flashing lights. Sad to see they closed.

[@davidbush131]

I used to visit this restaurant in West LA every six months or so. I wouldn’t call it a “huge failure “. It was just another in a long, long line of celebrity themed restaurants. It didn’t have Spielberg‘s name on the restaurant anywhere that the average consumer would even ever see it. You had to sort of be in to movie culture and all that to even have any knowledge of it. Theme restaurants are as old as Mini Pearl’s chicken dinner restaurant in the 50s, and this place was no different. It was fun, the food was meh and you can say you visited. it was for white trash tourists and they o Lu built 2. The space was later taken over by a Houston’s restaurant which I used to visit far more frequently. I understand they redid the whole Century City Mall, so I have no idea what that space looks like now.

[@shannonfarrell4761]

Excellent video. This was my brother's favorite place to go to when we traveled to Vegas. We had his rehearsal dinner there in 1998 and it was super cool. The decline in the site was tough to watch when we travel back to Vegas over the next two years.

[@bagofgroceries]

So Dreamworks only exists because of a Spielberg Sandwich shop? Dang.

[@Krags47]

My aunt took me to this restaurant once when I was around 6 maybe 7. I think of it often. Great video!

[@Deadeye313]

So they made a whole underwater, nautical experience and they did only sub sandwiches? While it's funny to order a sub at a sub restaurant, no one thought to make seafood a staple offering...? Good seafood places at reasonable prices are hard to come by and that could have been a niche offering

[@brianandzenia]

Great video! I used to work at the Vegas location 1998-2000 as a server! I miss the Buffalo chicken sandwich and the fries in a cone with all the dipping sauces to try! So many great memories and friendly faces working there.

[@jenodonovan-uc2nl]

My husband opened that location and the Barcelona location. So many great people worked there!!

[@emmaedwards7087]

They had one in Barcelona, I went there and had forgotton until this. It was spectacularly medioche

[@AimeeCurameng]

I'm a Vegas local now but I used to come here every time I visited as a kid. It was just a really fun place to eat. The themes were really fun for a kid and I loved the novelty of the submarine shape on the outside. I'm sure I just ate a burger or something but those subs look really good. Wish it was here now to give some fun and variety to the strip! I think I have a couple of photos of me eating inside because my dad used to take a lot of pictures.