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Twin Cities-based Schussler Creative has a deal, in principle, to call its "America's RoadHouse" restaurant concept "Orange County Choppers: Bikes, Blues & BBQ." Ten are planned throughout the country.
Orange County Choppers is the New York custom motorcycle manufacturer founded by Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr., stars of "American Chopper," a TLC reality show.
Steven Schussler recently purchased a Spider-Man chopper, autographed with the words "First bike sold World Headquarters 4-26-08," by Teutul Jr.
"You know that I rode that bicycle with them last week through the streets of Orange County, New York," Schussler said. "The Teutuls are really nice, humble people, despite their big guns."
The Spidey bike was one of the vehicles from Schussler's collection on display last week when he threw a party for Disney execs at his new St. Louis Park outpost. Schussler Creative's main HQ remains in Golden Valley, where there are two warehouses/concept laboratories.
Schussler and Disney's George Aguel, senior veep of sales and services, briefly left the party to take two choppers on a swift spin along Hwy. 7. (Schussler loves to ride fast. Once he went screaming up Interstate 394's sane lane with my mother's only girl child in the passenger seat of his convertible Ferrari, while dialing a number on his cell phone and laughing maniacally at the panicked expression on my face. He slowed down when I yelled: IF YOU GET A TICKET, I'M WRITING ABOUT IT.)
Disney already has three Schussler-concept restaurants on its properties: Rainforest Cafe, T-Rex, and Yak and Yeti. The party welcoming Aguel and colleagues Keith Bradford, Kevin Lansberry, Ed Wronkski and Barry Carlson was the kickoff for two days' worth of concept-pitching from Schussler Creative staffers. There are 13 new concepts. I had three favorites.
No. 1) Hot Dog Hall of Fame: Frankly the Best Hot Dogs, Sausages, Dumplings and French Fries in the World. The variety of fries will go way beyond potatoes; the dumplings are pot stickers. No. 2) Ice --Baby -- Ice, an ice bar that is part of the Winter Wonderland concept, "a magic of winter restaurant open year-round," Schussler said.
No. 3) Sorcerer's Kitchen: School of Wizardly Magic and Food.
The Disney execs were impressed with Schussler's hospitality: "They said the welcome mat was unbelievable."
Unbelievable is Schussler's speciality. When he invited me to the party, I was worried about being able to find the address. How silly. Everybody driving along Hwy. 7, two blocks east of Knollwood Mall, had to notice the blowout featuring the Lamont Cranston Band, police controlling the corner, antique vehicles and choppers everywhere.
Neighbors were invited, including the minister from the Knollwood Christian Church, who promptly sent a thank-you note. "You promised me when you moved in that you'd change the entire appearance of the building and you'd be a fantastic neighbor. You came through with both," Schussler said, reading from the Rev. Brian Lindquist's note, which also promised that his wife, Connie, would bring over caramel rolls for Schussler's crew. Sounds like an excuse for another Schussler soiree. Scenes from this party can be seen at www.startribune.com/video.
Makeovers in the works The producers on NBC's "Today" show booked ReVamp! SalonSpa's Christopher Hopkins to come on last week and do a men's makeover segment.
And then somebody woke up. "Staging Your Comeback: A Complete Beauty Revival for Women Over 45" is the book Hopkins wrote and will soon support on a book tour. His rescheduled appearance will rightly focus on making over WOMEN, not men.
To get on "Today," Hopkins was willing to do whatever was asked because, he said, "Beggars can't be choosers."
Potty-mouthed Robin KS95's Staci Matthews was not yukking it up at one of Robin Williams' Acme Comedy Club appearances, where he worked on the act he's taking to Vegas.
"Wee-wee jokes and poop jokes, not really my cup of tea. It was a little lowbrow for me," said Matthews, who is still glad she went because "the man is a legend."
Williams is a legend, an Oscar winner (not wiener) and a little old for potty training issues.
C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or cj@startribune.com. E-mailers, please state a subject -- "Hello" doesn't count.
