Universal CityWalk facts for kids

Universal CityWalk is the name shared by the entertainment and retail districts located adjacent to the theme parks of Universal Destinations & Experiences. 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, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japan, and Universal Beijing Resort in Beijing, China.

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

Quick facts for kids
Universal CityWalk Hollywood

Location	Universal Studios Hollywood
Coordinates	34°08′10″N 118°21′18″W / 34.1359945°N 118.3551362°W / 34.1359945; -118.3551362
Address	100 Universal City Plaza Universal City, California 91608
Opening date	May 1993; 31 years ago (May 1993) amphitheatre: June 28, 1972; 52 years ago (June 28, 1972) theater: July 4, 1987; 37 years ago (July 4, 1987) expansion: April 7, 2000; 24 years ago (April 7, 2000)
Closing date	amphitheatre: September 6, 2013; 11 years ago (September 6, 2013)
Owner	Universal Destinations & Experiences
Architect	Jon Jerde
No. of stores and services	29
Public transit access	Universal City/Studio City Station

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

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 (operated by AMC Theatres since 2006). A $1 billion, 93,000 sq ft (8,600 m²) expansion opened in 2000. Planning done by Jerde Associates. Street performers (magicians and musicians) are a common sight.

CityWalk's central plaza is topped by a 170-foot radial trellis designed and built by Pearce Structures (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.

In January 2010, the music video for Justin Bieber's song "Baby" was recorded here.

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.

Shopping

Raider Image, Universal CityWalk Hollywood

Entertainment

Universal CityWalk Orlando

Universal CityWalk Orlando

Location	Universal Orlando Resort
Coordinates	28°28′20″N 81°27′56″W / 28.4722676°N 81.4656319°W / 28.4722676; -81.4656319
Address	6000 Universal Boulevard Orlando, Florida 32819
Opening date	February 4, 1999; 25 years ago (February 4, 1999)
Owner	Universal Destinations & Experiences
No. of stores and services	13
Public transit access	21, 37, & 40

The entrance plaza to CityWalk Orlando

The Universal CityWalk in Orlando opened in February 1999 as one component of the expansion that transformed Universal Studios Florida into 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 parking garages then travel via covered moving walkways over Universal Boulevard into CityWalk. From there, guests can proceed into either of the theme parks: Universal Studios Florida and 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
• Lone Palm Airport – A quick service bar across from 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

• Pat O'Brien's Bar – A franchise of the original bar/restaurant in New Orleans.
• BK Whopper Bar – Limited service to the fast food restaurant Burger King
• Panda Express
• Moe's Southwest Grill
• Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom
• Fat Tuesday – A walk up bar
• Red Oven Pizza Bakery
• Cold Stone Creamery
• Menchie's Frozen Yogurt
• Vivo Italian Kitchen (formerly Pastamore Italian Restaurant in 1999)
• Hot Dog Hall of Fame
• Bread Box Handcrafted Sandwiches
• The Cowfish Sushi and Burger Bar
• NBC Sports Grill & Brew (formerly NASCAR Café in 1999)
• The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen (formerly NBA City in 1999)
• Voodoo Doughnut
• Bigfire American Fare (formerly Emeril's Restaurant Orlando in 1999)
• Bend the Bao

Entertainment

• Universal Cinemark at CityWalk, previously operated by Loews Theatres until January 26, 2006, when AMC Theatres merged the Loews Theatres chain, and previously operated by AMC until 2018.
• Bob Marley – A Tribute to Freedom
• CityWalk's Rising Star – A karaoke club featuring a live band and backup Singers. Opened in April of 2008 replacing CityJazz.
• Hard Rock Live – A separate performance venue adjacent to the Hard Rock Cafe
• Red Coconut Club (Formerly Decades Cafe in 2005)
• 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.
• Universal's Great Movie Escape – An Escape room experience with rooms themed to both Back to the Future and Jurassic World. (formerly "the groove" nightclub)

Shopping

• Candy Smith (at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium)
• CityWalk Hub Store
• Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company
• Quiet Flight Surf Shop
• The Smuggler's Hold (at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville)

Former Shopping

• Universal Studios Store
• Universal Legacy Store (now replaced by Universal Epic Universe Preview Center as a new exhibition)

Exhibition

• Universal Epic Universe Preview Center (Opening in 2024)

Former Outlets

• Big Kahuna Pizza
• BMG Gear
• Blue Man Group Theatre
• Cartooniversal
• Cigarz at Citywalk
• Element Skateboards
• The Endangered Species Store
• Fresh Produce
• Fossil, Inc.
• Fusion Bistro Sushi & Sake Bar
• Galaxy Bar
• The Groove
• Island Clothing Co.
• Katie's Candy Company
• P!Q
• TCBY
• Tommy Bahama

Incident

On April 22, 2011, a 33-year-old man from Winter Haven, Florida, was found unconscious in front of the Universal Cineplex 20 theater after being tased by an off-duty police officer due to disorderly conduct. The man was taken to Dr. P. Phillips Hospital and later died.

Universal CityWalk Osaka

Universal City Walk Osaka, Japan

The Universal CityWalk Osaka opened to public on March 31, 2001 as part of the Universal Studios 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 Cafe
• Seiryumon

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

Universal CityWalk Beijing

Universal CityWalk Beijing from its south

The Universal CityWalk Beijing opened to public on September 2, 2021 as part of the Universal Beijing Resort's first phase with no entrance fee.

Dining

The Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant at Universal CityWalk Beijing

• BMW JOYCUBE
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Company
• CityWalk Red Oven Pizza Bakery
• CityWalk WUBEI CRAFT FOOD AND BEER
• Cutie Cones
• Donglaishun
• Jumbo Seafood
• KPRO
• Neon Street Hawkers
• Peet's Coffee
• Phoenix House Superior Shop
• Quanjude
• The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar
• TIME TRAVEL GRANDMA'S HOME FLAGSHIP STORE
• Universal CityWalk - The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen

Shopping

Universal Studios Store, Beijing

• Adidas
• Harmay
• Kakao Friends
• POP MART
• Swarovski
• The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium Candy Store
• Universal Studios Store

Entertainment

• Universal CityWalk Cinema

See also

In Spanish: Universal CityWalk para niños