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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2013 |
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The Planet Hollywood sign against the blue sky might make you hungry for a signature BBQ Bacon Cheddar Burger. It’s the celebrity restaurant’s classic burger, finished with hickory smoked bacon, tangy sweet barbecue sauce, and sharp cheddar cheese. |
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In that case, you’ve come to the wrong Planet Hollywood. This one doesn’t sell food—only merchandise. It’s the Planet Hollywood Super Store. Don’t expect anything as “super” as a SuperTarget or Walmart Supercenter. This Super Store is rather small. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2013 Right side of the Super Store |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007 Left side of the Super Store |
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Although it’s not as large, it looks much better than any of those big box stores. The right side of the façade is modeled after the La Reina Theater in Sherman Oaks, California, a Streamline Moderne masterpiece built in 1937. All that’s left of the real theater is its façade, marquee, ticket booth, and terrazzo sidewalk. Its auditorium was demolished in 1987 and replaced by retail space. Its sign tower was a victim of the 1995 Northridge earthquake. The left side of the façade is modeled after a White Tower Hamburgers restaurant. It’s a nice example of Streamline Moderne design in the 1930s. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Marquee |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2013 Planet Hollywood retro movie posters |
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Let’s go inside. Depending on which door you use, one of the first things you’ll see is a photo of four familiar movie stars. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2013 Movie stars with Planet Hollywood at Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World, behind them |
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Backers Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Arnold Schwarzenegger are the public face of Planet Hollywood. That’s why their group photo is on the wall. Destination restaurants often sell t-shirts and other merchandise. With its theme of Hollywood movies and stars, Planet Hollywood has things that people want to buy—even at a store not attached to a restaurant. And it’s more than just a store. It’s also a bit of a Hollywood museum. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2013 Actual prop used in the movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Actual crowbar used in the movie Home Alone (1990) |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Actual bladed glove worn by “Freddy Krueger” in the movie Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) |
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Some of the movie memorabilia on display is rather gruesome for a family attraction. But, hey, this is a theme park about “the movies,” not just about family-friendly Disney movies. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Cyborg Arnold keeping an eye on the merchandise |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers—Pink and Yellow |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Updated movie posters |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2013 Giant movie film on the ceiling—homage to the time before movies were digital |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Creative retail interior |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2013 Styles for every taste |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Logo shirt |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2013 Dusk at the Planet Hollywood Super Store |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2016 Planet Hollywood Super Store after dark |
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The best thing about the Planet Hollywood Super Store might be its neon at night, especially with all the other neon on Sunset Boulevard. |
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The first Planet Hollywood restaurant opened in New York City on October 22, 1991. Other locations followed, including one at Walt Disney World on December 18, 1994. Surprisingly, Planet Hollywood Super Store at Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park) had opened a half year earlier—June 12, 1994. After almost 25 years, Planet Hollywood Super Store closed permanently on February 2, 2019. The Planet Hollywood globe disappeared from the top of the building. The tower lost its neon letters spelling “Planet Hollywood.” All references to “Super Store” were removed. |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2019 Former Planet Hollywood Super Store |
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Photo by Allen Huffman, 2019 Former Planet Hollywood Super Store marquee |
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Initially, the space branded as part of Legends of Hollywood, the Disney-run store next door. It seemed odd that the theater façade was not given signage appropriate for an art deco movie theater. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2024 Majestic Theater in 2024 |
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The tower sign now reads “The Majestic,” but there’s no theater name above the marquee. Instead, large changeable letters on the marquee read “The Majestic Theater” — where real theaters would advertise what’s showing. The missing theater sign and odd use of the marquee are a missed opportunity to make this part of Sunset Boulevard come across as authentic. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2024 To the left of the Majestic Theater |
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Meanwhile, the other façade of the former Planet Hollywood Super Store now has a clock where the sign used to be. Another odd choice. |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2008 Planet Hollywood at Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World |
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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2018 Planet Hollywood Observatory at Disney Springs, Walt Disney World |
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You can still shop for Planet Hollywood merchandise at Walt Disney World, just not inside a theme park. After an extended renovation of the Planet Hollywood restaurant at Walt Disney World, it reopened on January 27, 2017, as the Planet Hollywood Observatory. And, of course, there’s a store inside. |
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© 2024 Werner Weiss — Disclaimers, Copyright, and Trademarks Updated May 31, 2024 |
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