Hooray for Hollywood (Part 1): The Opening Credits - Cafés, Clubs, and Quiet Tributes

 

Welcome to Hollywood… Universal-style.
As you walk through the gates of Universal Studios Florida and head down the Hollywood section of the park, you’re not just stepping into a theme park—you’re walking through a carefully crafted love letter to the Golden Age of Hollywood. Each facade along this main thoroughfare is more than just set dressing. 

Map per the Universal website showing the boundaries of Hollywood

In this series, we’re taking you building by building down Rodeo Drive to uncover the real-life places, people, and stories that inspired Universal’s iconic streetscape.

This article serves as Part 1, focusing on the right side of the street, starting from the Today Cafe to Maryanne's. Let's get started!

Places, Everyone! (and a slight disclaimer)

When Universal Studios Florida opened on June 7, 1990, it wasn't just a park - it was a working production studio. Unlike Universal Studios Hollywood, there was no separate backlot; instead, the park's themed lands were and continue to be the backlot. In fact, you can even book the backlot for your next project! We've linked the website for the Universal Studios Florida Production Group in the Reference section at the bottom of this article (and best of luck to you on your next project)!

Anyway, initially, guests entered the park and stepped onto "The Front Lot". This area was later named "Production Central" and is today called "Hollywood". However, depending on where you look on the Universal App and Website, the borders of this area start to blur, as seen in the screenshots below, taken June 20th, 2025.

The screenshots show our first location, the Today Cafe. The Universal App shows this location in purple - or Hollywood. However, two locations on the Universal Orlando website still show the area in magenta, which was labeled for Production Central. For the purposes of this conversation, we'll assume the entire area is Hollywood.

Today Cafe

As we walk down Rodeo Drive, the first building you'll see on the right is the Today Cafe, which celebrates NBC’s long-running Today Show. The interior and exterior reflect a modern take on Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, complete with screens streaming clips from the show. 

But longtime parkgoers might remember this spot by another name: Beverly Hills Boulangerie—a charming bakery and coffee shop.

 

Beverly Hills Boulangerie - Photo Credit: Orlando Informer

Although it has since been rebranded, the Boulangerie is still alive and well at Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Beijing, where it retains the Beverly Hills name.

At Universal Studios Florida, the Today Cafe has been a quick-service eatery and specialty coffee spot since 2019. They even have a rotating seasonal menu that features dishes inspired or created by the show's crew, such as Craig's Artisan Chicken Salad BLT, created by news anchor Craig Melvin.

Today Cafe, as taken from across the street

NBC's Today has also broadcast from Universal Studios Florida! We have personally seen long-time Today anchor Al Roker broadcast a live segment with the Minions.

Across the street from the cafe is a location that has changed a few times over the years, from Lucy - A Tribute (a little museum about Lucille Ball, from I love Lucy), to a Universal Studios/Hello Kitty shop, to the most recent theme, which is based on the Broadway musical turned movie, Wicked.


Entrance to Lucy - A Tribute (2009 photo) - Photo Credit: Yesterland.com

Kevin from Where In The Park outside of the Hello Kitty Shop along Rodeo Drive. The entrance shown at the Lucy Tribute is located around the corner to the left.

Ciro’s: Hollywood’s Favorite Hangout

Continuing our walk down Hollywood Boulevard, you’ll come across a building labeled Ciro’s—but its backstory takes us far from Orlando and straight to the heart of classic Hollywood glamour.

While the façade here shows an address of 7025, the original Ciro’s was actually located at 8433 Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. The building that would eventually become the iconic nightclub first opened in 1935 as Club Seville, a short-lived venture by Al De Freitas. Within five years, the space was completely reimagined by architect George Vernon Russell and reopened in January 1940 as Ciro’s, under the direction of Billy Wilkerson.

Wilkerson was no stranger to the spotlight—he had already founded The Hollywood Reporter (yes, the very one still making headlines today) and had opened several high-profile nightclubs and restaurants before Ciro’s. He would later go on to begin construction on the original Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas.

Ciro’s quickly became one of the most glamorous hangouts in town, attracting a star-studded crowd that included Marilyn Monroe, Humphrey Bogart, Ronald Reagan, Lucille Ball, and Desi Arnaz. On any given night, the club hosted legendary performers such as Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis Jr., Liberace, and Nat King Cole!

In 1972, the club saw yet another transformation when Sammy and Mitzi Shore, the parents of comedian Pauly Shore, purchased it. They turned the space into The Comedy Store, a venue that helped launch the careers of countless stand-up legends and continues to host top-tier comedy acts to this day.

So, while the theme park version of Ciro’s may only be a nod to its namesake, it’s rooted in decades of entertainment history, one star-studded enough to deserve its place on this Hollywood-inspired boulevard.

Mocambo: The Club That Inspired a Legend

Just a few steps down from Ciro’s, you’ll spot another nod to Hollywood nightlife history—a blue and gray two-story building called the Mocambo. If you wanted to rub shoulders with Hollywood royalty in the 1940s and '50s, you went to one of these two places.

The real Mocambo opened its doors on January 3, 1941, just a year after Ciro’s, at 8588 Sunset Boulevard. It was founded by former talent agent Charlie Morrison and his silent partner, the former film producer Felix Young. With a lush jungle-themed interior, a dazzling stage, and a guest list full of A-listers, the venue quickly became one of the most glamorous nightclubs in town.

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were not only regulars at Mocambo—they were close friends with Charlie Morrison. Their connection to the club inspired one of the most iconic sets in television history. The Tropicana Club was designed to mimic the look and feel of the Mocambo’s main stage, and can be seen when Ricky Ricardo famously performed with his band on I Love Lucy.

 

After Morrison’s death in 1957, the golden era of the Mocambo began to fade. The club closed its doors the following year. Although it was briefly revived in 1970 as The Cloister, it eventually met the wrecking ball. Today, a retail complex called The Sunset sits where stars once danced the night away—its former footprint now home to an Equinox gym.

This theme park version of Mocambo might be just a façade, but it pays tribute to a venue that helped shape the nightlife and pop culture of classic Hollywood.

Shown above is a plaque found to the left of the doors of the Mocambo at Universal Studios Florida. Note that the year is 1939. We found many sources quoting 1941 as its opening year, so we are unclear about what happened in 1939. However, if you know, please share with us in the comments below or on our Where In The Park Explorers Facebook Group!

Wait... What street are we on, again?

After passing the Mocambo facade, look across the street at the street signs near the Wicked shop and The Brown Derby. This intersection marks your transition from the glitzy Sunset Strip-inspired section into a new part of the land, one that draws from another iconic L.A. neighborhood: Beverly Hills.

Today, the sign simply reads Rodeo Drive, but on previous visits (as seen below), it also included Selma Avenue. Now here’s where things get interesting: in real-world Los Angeles, Selma Avenue and Rodeo Drive do not intersect. However, Selma Avenue does cross Sunset Boulevard, which is where the real-life Ciro’s and Mocambo nightclubs once stood.

This small creative liberty in the street signage marks a subtle shift in the theming. According to early park maps, the area you’re entering was once labeled the “Beverly Hills Set”—hence the presence of Rodeo Drive, one of the most famous shopping streets in the world. Though it’s all part of the same Hollywood land on the park map, the area ahead leans more into upscale elegance than nightlife nostalgia.

Across the street, near the Brown Derby facade (which we’ll explore in a future episode), there’s another pair of intersecting street signs: Ivar Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard. These two streets do cross in the real Hollywood, but we haven’t yet uncovered a deeper connection between Ivar Avenue and the story being told here in the park. Still, their inclusion shows just how carefully Universal’s designers cherry-picked real locations to create a Hollywood that goes beyond not just random facades. Every detail is intentional!

Maryanne’s Boutique & Dressmaking

As we continue our walk down the right side of Hollywood Boulevard, you’ll spot a charming storefront with yellow and white striped awnings and a sign on the window above the door that reads Maryanne’s Boutique & Dress Making. It may look like just another piece of theming, but this facade is a beautiful blend of real Beverly Hills history, fashion royalty, and heartfelt tribute.

The architecture of this building is modeled after the original Giorgio Beverly Hills storefront at 273 Rodeo Drive. That landmark boutique opened in 1961 and holds the distinction of being the very first luxury shop on Rodeo. It was founded by Fred Hayman and George Grant (with “Giorgio” being a stylish twist on George’s name). Just a year into the venture, Hayman bought out his partner and took the Giorgio brand to new heights.

In 1981, Hayman launched the now-legendary Giorgio fragrance, which became a massive commercial success. After selling the fragrance brand to Avon in 1987, the store was renamed Fred Hayman Beverly Hills. This could be why the plaque to the right of Maryanne's reads, "Established 1987."

Amanda from Where In The Park, as seen from the very shiny plaque.

Hayman also owned a nearby office building on Canon Drive, which still bears his signature at the top and features a replica of that original storefront, complete with the 273 address above the door. Fittingly, Maryanne's includes a subtle nod to this history: a plaque on the right side of the building reads “Parking on Canon Drive,” referencing the second location, just two blocks from the original boutique.

Yes, you can see Kevin in this one :)

But here at Universal, Maryanne hasn’t always been the tenant here. Sometime between 2009 and 2015, the storefront was renamed—Google Street View confirms that it previously bore the name Adrian’s. That version still exists in Universal Studios Japan, where the same building remains branded as Adrian’s. This may be a tribute to Adrian Adolph Greenburg, a legendary costume designer known simply as Adrian. He designed the iconic looks for The Wizard of Oz and dressed Hollywood’s elite through MGM from the late 1920s through the early ’40s. He later launched his own fashion house in Beverly Hills and is honored alongside fellow design icon Edith Head at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the shop Adrian & Edith’s Head to Toe.

So why was it renamed Maryanne’s in Florida? 

Through some research and connections with Universal insiders, we learned that Maryanne’s Boutique was renamed in honor of Maryanne Brown, a Senior Executive Assistant to the Chairman at Universal Parks & Resorts. Maryanne passed away from cancer, and in tribute, the facade was renamed to commemorate her legacy. Far from a random theme park detail, this storefront represents the memory of someone who made a lasting impact behind the scenes.

And Maryanne’s story continues to be celebrated. Each year, Shepherd’s Hope—a nonprofit providing free healthcare to the uninsured in Central Florida—presents the Maryanne Brown Award of Distinction at its Famous Faces Masquerade Ball. The award honors individuals and organizations who embody her incredible spirit of action and compassion. Past recipients include Orlando Health, and Universal Orlando has sponsored the event itself.

One more name appears on this facade: the bottom of a display window to the left of the door reads “Denise Brock / Designer.” According to public records and a retirement announcement, Denise Brock also served as a Senior Executive Assistant to the Chairman at Universal Orlando. Her son, Barry, shared a tribute to her career on Facebook in 2021. It's possible her name here is another quiet recognition of the hard work and dedication that keep a place like Universal running behind the scenes.

From luxury fashion to heartfelt remembrance, Maryanne’s Boutique is more than just set dressing—it’s a layered tribute to glamour, legacy, and the people who shaped the Universal story from the inside.

If you have any additional stories or information about Maryanne or Denise, we’d love to hear them! Details like these make this land feel alive, and we’re always eager to uncover more of the magic hidden in plain sight.

Listen and Explore Even More

That wraps up Part 1 of our tour down the right side of the Hollywood area of Universal Studios Florida. These facades are more than just pretty backdrops—they’re tributes to the stars, landmarks, and people who helped define Hollywood’s legacy, both inside and outside of the park.

🎧 Want to hear more? Scroll to the top of the page, or listen to Part 1 of the Where In The Park Podcast: Hooray for Hollywood here!
📖 Prefer to read? You’re already here—be sure to check back for the next part in the series! Subscribe to our Newsletter to be notified when a new article is released!
📸 Got a favorite facade? Share your photos with us in the Where In The Park Explorers Group on Facebook

✨Articles referenced in this blog ✨

 

Discover even more of Universal Studios Florida with seek-&-find games from Where In The Park! Each game pack comes with a deck of cards, each card has an image hidden in the theming of the park! The question is: Where In The Park!

With 38 details to find at USF alone, there is so much more to discover! Check out the Mini Game and Where In The Park Game packs today, or expand your search to include Islands of Adventure and even bundles for both parks! Shop all Universal Orlando games here and let's go explore the parks!

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