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Non-Tech : RAINFOREST CAFE -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SE who wrote (3668)	1/1/1998 4:43:00 PM
From: Playin my Cards	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4704

Don't have any shares but stopped by a Rainforest Cafe while in Vegas last weekend and thought I'd share my experience. My stumble down the strip brought me to the MGM Grand where I saw my first Rainforest Cafe. At first glance, it's quite an eye popper. Water falls, the bar is one big fish tank, trees, vines hanging from the ceiling, looks like what I can only imagine a rainforest would look like - within reason. I only had a couple drinks...frozen ones...The Margarilla, and something else. Maybe it was the "Freeze" Headache I got that was affecting my judgement...maybe the 4 hours of mild drinking and gambling prior to this stop, but I thought the service wasn't very good. We drank at the bar. The bar tender was a little snooty. When I put my credit card on the bar signifying I wanted to pay the bill, he proceded to wait on about 4 other people without even checking. We had to ask another bartender twice to check us out. To top it all off, they had no match-books for my collection. There was no smoking in the restaurant (which is nice since I don't smoke) but I would have liked a souvineer. Anyways, I would probably go back to another one if I came upon one. Probably would try out the food next time just for the experience. But I won't go back to that bar again. Anyways, just thought I'd share my experience with you all! Happy New Years, Mike Oh Yea Scott.... GO PACKERS!!!

To: SE who wrote (3668)	1/1/1998 7:11:00 PM
From: J. Kittle	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 4704

Scott: Just sold my RAIN yesterday. Rode it all the way down and back up last year and decided to put my meager profit into some battered tech. stocks. As soon as I get out of the hopefully "tremendously profitable" techs, I'll be back in RAIN. I've got a profit and a few coupons, and will keep an eye on this thread looking for a time to reenter. I really appreciate this informative thread, don't have much to contribute, but appreciate all the time put in by others. Hoping for a great 98 for everyone. Jeff

To: SE who wrote (3668)	1/1/1998 11:52:00 PM
From: Marshall Teitelbaum	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4704

Scott, I actually think that management has generally done a fairly reasonable job getting openings in on-time or close to it. It is worth keeping in mind that the nature of the business dictates certain delays.....Palisades and Animal Kingdom Park for instance may have more to do with external surroundings not being opened on-time, such as mall and park, rather than a RAIN delay. A delay of a couple of days or weeks really isn't a delay for a restaurant, with Aventura being just a few days after anticipated, but this had to do with the new section(or one floor of it actually) of Aventura mall needing to fully complete inspection, and RAIN was ready to roll as soon as this was done, which was a matter of a few days only. Other locations of have been pretty much on schedule, and amazingly so to people who help put them together...they describe utter amazement at just how quickly the whole thing gets put together, considering the animatronix and aquariums necessary. This isn't to say that there aren't concerns at times about management, but they generally have been an efficient bunch when it comes to openings, although maybe nixing 2 of them a bit later than would have been preferred(although retrospectively early enough to prevent bigger headaches..atlantic city and stratosphere for those with shorter memories). I would like to see the issue of the coo being resolved already though, and I would also like to see where the new money from the convertibles is going, with the rumors flying about openings coming faster and more furiously(although announced recently that '98 anticipates 16-20 new RAINs, including international). Happy new year, Marshall

To: SE who wrote (3668)	1/3/1998 2:35:00 PM
From: Dennis Vail	Respond to of 4704

Hi Scott, From MF RAIN: Apparently the Palisades Unit is all but complete and basically is waiting for the mall to open. Palisades Mall itself is reported to be like really huge ( four floors) and will begin opening piecemeal at the end of January which is in line with what Marshall heard at Aventura. However Woyanne from MF (and a regular SI observer) was told by the Tyson's staff that a March opening for RAIN is most likely. The 12/11/97 Ladenburg Thalmann report I quoted has not updated their 1998 number since at least last summer and probably earlier. I would expect earnings estimates to be updated after 4Q earnings are reported. The fact of the matter is most analysts just increase their numbers by the 40-50% growth rate on projections ovweer the current year. Since 1998 is now the current year I'd expect a little more thought behind the numbers which should benefit RAIN particularly in light of recent announcements on the 1998 openings. Fourth Quarter Earnings would seem to be a lock as Robinow has said as much. Since the general info on the weakness in same store sales at Tyson's (-15%) and Woodfield ( -7.5%) has already been suggested in the press release and given in specifics to the analysts ( Ladenburg Thalman report), I would asume that is what is responsible for the current price weakness. It looks like Woodfield Mall closed the last three weeks of December very strongly. I was there last Monday and the place was packed. RAIN was full with a crowd out front throughout our stay at the mall and the restaurant was full througfhout our leisurely meal from 1 to 3. ( John, I found a few Margarilla's lowers my bite rate to 1.5 chew a second regardless of the speed opf the music :-) ) . Merchants were mildly positive about the quarters revenues and very enthusiastic about thge last few weeks before Christmas. I'd assume that Woodfields Same Store Sales should benefit from this with as well. Hopefully the final results for 4Q will be less than 5%. Woyanne claimed Tyson's seemed to close out the year very strongly as well. Rumor has it that at least one brokerage house is pushing the idea that RAIN has narrowed the COO/Pres search down to two candidates and will announce the new COO some time in January. Hope so and the sooner the better in my view. After all this time he better be top drawer too. Once 4Q earnings are announced RAINs p/e will take a nice dip based on the change in trailing and/or forward (name your poison) years earnings the report creates. As reported in the S3, some accounting practices will change as per new SEC guidelines. This will cause all preopening expenses reported immediately rather than amortized over 11 months. No big deal but it will cause RAIN and just about all other growth companies a few pennies a year in reported earnings. As the money had to paid eventually anyway in real terms all this amounts too is a tax break in my view and a simpler balance sheet to keep track of. All in all it seems to me RAIN is in great shape long-term with Asia deflation still the only threat on RAIN's horizon. Thanks for stopping by to chat Scott. Have a great 1998!!! I hope you get back in soon. I'd appeciate hearing some more details on the why those funds you mentioned are shying away from RAIN. Do you thing a new and well respected COO might change their minds? Best regards, Dennis