Chairman of the Board

Prior to entering the restaurant and entertainment arenas, Schussler held executive positions in the television and radio broadcast industry, selling radio air time in Miami and then television air time for networks, independent and cable television throughout the United States.

A creative type all his life, Schussler has a passion for conceiving concepts that appeal to the masses. His career in the restaurant industry began with the development of Jukebox Saturday Night, a nostalgic restaurant and night club with four locations in Chicago, Illinois; one in Des Moines, Iowa; one in Springfield, Massachusetts; one in San Francisco, California and one in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Schussler’s first Rainforest Cafe™ (A Wild Place to Shop and Eat™),opened at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota in October 1994. Steven and his public company owned and operated 45 Rainforest Café restaurants in seven years, in three continents and sold the chain to Landry’s Restaurants in 2000, but not before receiving more than 40 awards in six years including: Fortune Magazine’s Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies in the U.S.A. (named to the list two consecutive years); Nation’s Restaurant News’ Hot Concept Award, Orlando Magazine’s Best Theme Restaurant; the National Retail Federation’s National Retailer of the Year; and Chicago Tribune’s Best Restaurant for Kids.  Schussler Creative, Inc. was founded in 2000, where he leads the creative vision and overall strategic direction of the organization.

Steven founded and created T-REX™: A Prehistoric Family Adventure™ :A Place to Shop, Eat, Explore and Discover™; Yak & Yeti™ Restaurant; Betty & Joe’s™: Baker & Coffee Maker™-You Can’t Have One Without the Other™; Hot Dog Hall of Fame™: Frankly the Best Hot Dogs, Sausages, Dumplings, and French-Fries in the World! ™; Galaxy Drive In™: Aliens, Humans and All of Our Four Legged Friends Welcome™ – Made on Earth™ and  Backfire BBQ™ featuring Orange County Choppers, Bikes, Burgers, and BBQ™.