Tenants lining up for 1.2-million-square-foot Sparks Marina

SPARKS — The creator of the Rainforest Café announced two new restaurants Wednesday for the shopping mall being built at the Sparks Marina — a barbecue joint called “America’s RoadHouse” and the “Hot Dog Hall of Fame.”

They will open at The Legends at Sparks Marina, a 1.2-million-square-foot project expected to house 100 to 115 stores along U.S. Interstate 80.

Developers of the mall scheduled to begin opening in October 2008 describe it as a destination development combining one-of-a-kind entertainment and retail stores with other attractions, learning opportunities and unique dining options.

Unlike a typical shopping center that draws visitors from within a 10-mile radius, they claim The Legends will attract most of its visitors from more than 100 miles away.

“We are moving way beyond retail entertainment development,” said Steve Graham, vice president of RED Development based in Kansas City, Mo. “We are creating matchless experiences by developing destination attractions for guests who hunger and thirst for new experiences.”

America’s RoadHouse will feature such things as smoked barbecue ribs, specialty fries, meatloaf, roasted chicken, beef brisket and pot pies. Under the theme of “Bikers, Blues and Barbecues,” it will include live blues music, nostalgic motorcycles, modern choppers, convertibles and antique jukeboxes.

The Hot Dog Hall of Fame will be the home of “Paint Your Own Wiener” and “The Art of Mustard,” where customers use paint brushes to apply a wide selection of mustards to their dogs.

“America’s RoadHouse and Hot Dog Hall of Fame are unlike anything you have ever seen before,” said Steven Schussler, the creator of the Rainforest Café.

Schussler earlier announced he will build a restaurant there similar to the Rainforest theme, “T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure.”

Other new tenants for the mall announced on Wednesday included concepts by Adidas, BCBG, BCBGirls, Chili’s Grill and Bar, Forever 21, Harry and David, Hash House a Go Go, Jazz- A Louisiana Kitchen, Lane Bryant, SegaWorld Sports Grille and Sunglass Station.

Previously announced tenants include Scheels, the sporting goods megastore that will anchor the mall.

Others committed to the project include Corona Cantina, Saddle Ranch Chop House, Off Broadway Shoes, and a 1,000-room upscale casino-resort-spa being built by Las Vegas-based Olympia Gaming.