The area formerly known as Muppets Courtyard in Disney’s Hollywood Studios will become a new “Monsters, Inc.” land. Take a last look at the details of Stage 1 Company Store, PizzeRizzo, Gonzo’s Royal Flush, and more.

MuppetVision 3D was originally part of the Streets of America. From 2016 to 2017, this area was known as Muppets Courtyard, a name which has stuck when talking about the land. It was officially renamed Grand Avenue in 2017.

A plaque on a column at the area’s entrance designates it “Grand Park Est. 2017.”

The courtyard has largely brick architecture. The walls of the courtyard, the pavement, the Muppet*Vision 3D theater, and the Gonzo’s Royal Flush bathroom building are all brick.

A central feature of the courtyard is a fountain featuring a sculpture of Miss Piggy as Lady Liberty. Some of Rizzo’s family members are fishing in the basin, while fish spout water around them.

Atop the bathroom building is a water tower reading “Broadway Plumbing.”

Walkways lead to the back of the land. Guests could once continue walking onto the Streets of America, but this now leads to a dead end.

A gate halfway down this walkway is painted to resemble a brick wall and gazebo. The gate was sometimes closed to control traffic. The backstage gate further down the walkway, next to the MuppetVision 3D exit, is green corrugated metal.

On the right is a staircase and blue set of doors. Painted on the brick wall above the doors is “Props Department – Rizzo Rat – We got it for a price.” The position of the door suggests it leads straight into the waiting area for MuppetVision 3D, which is a prop-filled warehouse.

A yellow and pink target is painted on the ground in front of the door.

Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano closed permanently in May. Check out our last look at the restaurant.

Mama Melrose’s was originally planned to be a Muppets restaurant, as part of a larger Muppets land that never came to be.

A “stroller parking” sign outside the restaurant features the Muppet Labs logo.

“It’s a Wonderful Shop” was a year-round Christmas store that never reopened following the COVID-19 closure. It retained its Christmas decorations, however, and has operated as a meet and greet location seasonally.

Stage 1 Company Store

The Muppets store also never reopened following the COVID-19 closure, except for special shopping events like May the 4th releases and Disney Jollywood Nights. The colorful, detailed exterior remained intact for these past five years.

The top building is half-painted yellow and has purple, pink, blue, and green paint splatters around the main entrance. “Animal was here” is written in pink paint on a wall, near footprints.

The store is not directly connected to the MuppetVision theater, but there is an awning-covered entrance right next to the exit. Framing the awning are two giant statues of Kermit in a tuxedo. Above the awning is a clock face featuring a picture of Miss Piggy.

At one time, the awning had its own eyes and nose. “Muppet Studio Stuff” was also on the side of the awning. But these were all removed after the store closed.

On the wall near Mama Melrose’s is a giant mural of Kermit’s face. His eyes cross over two vents high up on the wall. Red and green bunting criss-crosses the walkway.

Above the clock are circular elements featuring hidden Muppet eyes. On the roof is a Dr. Bunsen Honeydew-inspired globe wearing giant glasses.

Animal’s footprints lead around these short walls. Lion statues are covered in more dripping paint.

A Kermit clock face is on a side wall. Two elements above the clock resemble eyes.

Instead of numbers, the clock has stars.

A “Stage 1” sign is posted on the wall above a pair of Muppet posters. Written in yellow below the paint line is “Wet paint! do not touch” with the last letter unfinished as paint streams down the wall into a large splatter on the ground.

Animal may be behind this accident, too. He’s featured on one of the splattered posters. The other features Beaker.

Painted at the top of the partially-yellow wall is Kermit’s hand pointing at a door, along with an arrow and “Muppet Stuff.” Unfortunately, there is no Muppet stuff to be found.

The wall is also dotted with a confetti-like pattern of small shapes.

The wall sections left “unpainted” are a reddish brown color.

More Stage 1 Company Store signage is around the building. Hanging from a rope on a pulley system is a sign for the wheelchair-accessible ramp, which leads to one of the store’s doors as well as an outdoor seating area. Text on yellow splotches of paint reads “Ramp that a-way” and “Ramp this-a-way.”

Various props are in the windows, including a photo of Miss Piggy next to portraits of her fellow Hollywood starlets.

There are two pressed penny machines tucked next to a closed set of Stage 1 doors.

One machine has three MuppetVision 3D designs featuring Miss Piggy, Fozzie, and Kermit.

The other has pennies for PizzeRizzo, “Frozen,” and “The Incredibles.”

Though Stage 1 is currently shuttered, we did get a last look inside the space during the most recent May the 4th merchandise release. Muppet theming had already been removed from half of the store, but the other half was still intact.

It resembled a studio soundstage, just like the name implied, with film lighting, rigging, catwalks.

A series of paint cans on top of a shelf appeared to be dripping — next to a sign reading “Keep Workspace Clean.” Among the splatters of paint was a hidden Mickey.

The walls made of crates were labeled for different productions. Behind this wall is a dressing room set for “Room with No View.”

There were also small stamped “BVCC WDI” logos. Walt Disney Imagineering is, of course, Walt Disney Imagineering. BVCC refers to Buena Vista Construction Co.

Another crate wall was labeled “Nursery Set” for “The Great Diaper Caper.” This name is a riff on “The Great Muppet Caper.”

Hanging from the ceiling was a vintage film camera wearing the purple 3D glasses of MuppetVision 3D. It had a lever with a Mickey-style white glove. Hanging next to it was a director’s chair for “Mr. The Frog,” and a megaphone. A boom mic ran through the legs of the camera’s tripod and the chair.

Taking up a large portion of a wall was a half-painted tapestry of Miss Piggy. Paint supplies hung on a small platform in front of it. Someone has vandalized the mural, adding a curly mustache to Miss Piggy’s face.

A sign hanging with the paint supplies read, “Out to lunch! Be back when I feel like it…. Rizzo.” Another sign featuring an image of Rizzo read, “The taking of flash pictures is strictly up to you!”

A corner of the store resembled a hotel set, with numbered doors on a fake second floor above a check-in counter. Around the doors was peeling wallpaper.

Among the props hanging in the hotel set was a fire bucket and life preserver. There were framed pictures, several of them crooked. Room number 3’s sign was upside-down, while room number 4 was missing a handle.

Laundry hung across the space, in front of a United Kingdom flag. Among the Muppet-sized clothes was a pair of Mickey-style red shorts.

A sign next to room number 6 read, “No one stays or works here to disturb.”

Another large mural depicted cartoon versions of locations and vehicles from “The Muppet Movie.” A rainbow arced over the film’s church, a Ferris wheel, El Sleezo Cafe, and the Hollywood sign. In the foreground were the Electric Mayhem’s bus and Fozzie’s Studebaker, which the band paints.

Partially burnt signs next to the mural read, “Hot set!” and “Really hot set!”

Even when the store was closed, it was decorated to house a Muppets photo op during Disney Jollywood Nights.

Other signs in the store instructed “Do not look here” and then asked, “Why are you looking here?”

Remember the five laws of show biz:

1. The Star is always right.
2. The Audience is always right.
3. The Producer, Director, Lighting Crew, Set Decorator, Production Designer, Special Effects, Coordinator, Sound Engineer, Prop Master, Gaffer, Best Boy, Boom Operator, Stunt Doubles, Ticket Takers, Ushers, and the guy with the green broom who sweeps up are always right.
4. The Writer is always wrong.
5. There’s no such thing as net profits (Don’t tell the writers!)

Gonzo’s Royal Flush

Gonzo’s Royal Flush is Gonzo’s plumbing business, as seen in “The Muppets.” The restrooms in Muppets Courtyard were re-branded with Gonzo’s Royal Flush signage in 2016. This building is next to PizzeRizzo and across from the MuppetVision theater.

The restroom entrances are in brick archways. The companion restroom and a Cast Members-only closet had green doors, but the standard restrooms had open entrances.

The signage was all blue and white with crown details representing Gonzo’s Royal Flush. The main restrooms sign read, “Executive Used Toilet Showroom Presented by Gonzo’s Royal Flush.”

The restrooms have minimal theming inside. The stall doors were an off-white color. Beige tiles covered the top halves of the walls. The lower halves were dark tile, with stripes of light blue separating the two colors.

The sinks have white marble counters. There are no mirrors above the sinks but there is a mirror near the exit/entrance.

The tile flooring is white, dark brown, and blue. Though it has a different pattern, the colors matched those on the walls.

The restroom is also accessible from inside PizzeRizzo, with the same “Executive Used Toilet Showroom” sign.

Via PizzeRizzo, there is one open entrance leading to green doors for the Gentlemen and Ladies rooms.

PizzeRizzo

A small staircase and ramp lead to PizzeRizzo, which was slightly lower than the main Muppets Courtyard. It has some outdoor seating under red umbrellas, but most outdoor seating was on/under a green balcony structure.

A light-up, flashing billboard advertises “The City’s Top Rated Pizza” — but some of the lights perpetually flicker out, causing the sign to read “It’s Rat Pizza.” Rizzo is pictured in a chef’s uniform holding a large pizza.

PizzeRizzo started its life as Pizza Planet, inspired by the “Toy Story” restaurant. It was reimagined when the space became Muppets Courtyard, and soon before Toy Story Land opened (although Toy Story Land does not have a Pizza Planet). The name PizzeRizzo is a pun on “pizzeria” and the quick-service restaurant’s backstory is that Rizzo came from a rat family of pizza makers.

The green trash cans in and around the restaurant featured PizzeRizzo decals and hand-written-style text. This one outside read, “Don’t fuggedaboutit toss your trash!”

Others said things like:

• “Clean it up! Your ma don’t work here.”
• “Can it, youse guys!”
• “I’m trying to run a business here! Pick up after yourself!”

Much of the theming and decor is inspired by New York pizza joints, the origin of Rizzo’s family’s pizzerias, but this PizzeRizzo is supposedly located in L.A. The main entrance facade has windows with checkered curtains, a neon “Pizza” sign, and a red awning. The artificially faded and dirty “PizzeRizzo” sign above the awning states it was established in 1908. It’s the “famous original.” The sign also features the phrase “Pizza Planet.” A mural to the side of the entrance reads, “You got the dough? We got the cheese!”

A tile mat in front of the green entrance doors spells out “PizzeRizzo.”

The first floor dining room has white brick walls and columns. The flooring is red, green, and white tile. There are various sized tables, some with chairs and others at booths.

The tables have white tops. The chairs are brown wood. The booths are dark green with dark red plastic upholstery.

Stairs inside and outside lead to second-story seating. Groups of tables are separated by short light green walls topped with small green and floral print curtains.

Decorations on the first floor mostly consist of black-and-white photos of New York City and pizza making — with some Muppets snuck into different scenes.

This photo shows Sam Eagle, Janice, Animal, Pepe the King Prawn, and Rizzo around a pizzeria table.

Zoot, Floyd Pepper, and Lips of the Electric Mayhem are joined by Beaker in this picture.

Wait, is that Miss Piggy and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew cozying up in a booth?

The second story dining room is similar to the first, but with darker brick walls, red curtains, and different table decals. Some of the tables are green and others have a red check tablecloth-inspired pattern.

The flooring in this room is also wood-style. The chairs here are silver metal.

The ceiling has exposed rafters, lights, and large vents.

The second floor’s artwork are stylized sketches and caricatures of Muppets. There are portraits of Rizzo, Swedish Chef, Bunsen and Beaker, Pepe, Scooter, and more.

There’s another set of restrooms on the second floor, lacking the Gonzo’s Royal Flush theming (although we’re sure he’s still got his hand in the plumbing).

These restrooms have white and brown tile walls and brown flooring. There are fewer stalls, all with off-white doors. The counters are gray marble.

The restrooms are located in an area with subway theming. There’s a sign for 18th Street Station between framed records.

Beside the records are some old photos, a vintage New York advertisement, and some classic Broadway Playbills.

The Playbills are for “Of Mice And Men” and “The Rat Pack is Back!”

A “Subway” sign hangs under an old I-95 New York sign.

There are more black-and-white and sepia photos of NYC, along with another retro NYC flyer.

Some license plates hang among more records and photos. There’s a “Welcome Center” sign featuring the Statue of Liberty. And an all transit sign features a bus, wheelchair logo, and “No Standing” text.

A bulletin board is covered in flyers and other paraphernalia. An ad for “Fozzie’s Funny Business” says he is available for weddings and funerals and performs every other Thursday at Rizzo’s Deluxe Supreme Banquet Hall. Unfortunately, we’ve never managed to catch a show.

There are black-and-white photos of well-dressed people at a party. A small brochure is for “Swedish Singing Cakes.” A blue flyer advertises “Smooth Jazz Medleys with Rowlf – Serving the Los Angeles area.”

The black-and-white photos all appear to be by the “Professional Wedding Ratographer” who has pinned their business card on the board. Other cards advertise Pyrotechnics by Harry (this one is partially burnt), Tossing Penguin Tuxedo Rentals, and Something Blue Wedding Planners with Gonzo’s name in the corner.

A PizzeRizzo free slice of pizza coupon is pinned to the board. It’s “valid next week only.” The ad notes this is the second PizzeRizzo and offers “100% Authentic New Yorkish pizza!”

There’s a 1989 award for the first runner-up “classiest banquet room” given to PizzeRizzo by Banquet Hall Enthusiasts. Tucked into the frame is a clipping from Restaurateur Weekly for the “Best Rated Pizzeria” 2012.

A faded TV guide shows a picture of Jimmy Dean and Rowlf in “The Jimmy Dean Show.” Catch it at 10:00 — in the 1960s.

A green and black flyer advertises Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem. There’s another flyer for the banquet hall reading “We put the ‘Rat’ in celebrate!” The hall offers interspecies weddings, ratirement parties, and wakes. It accommodates up to 150 guests or 875 rats.

Gonzo got in on the advertising with some Gonzo’s Royal Flush flyers. A small card pinned to the board reads, “Made with Hole Milk.”

A Zarat Survey clipping says of PizzeRizzo:

Don’t be fooled by the hole-in-the-wall atmosphere and questionable kitchen staff at this Grand Avenue pizzeria. The excellent menu selection and Rizzo’s Deluxe Supreme Banquet Hall makes this family pizzeria — as the owner would say — “a real classy joint!”

The infamous banquet hall is at the end of the second floor. A bulletin board between the doors says it’s currently celebrating the wedding reception of Gil and Lill, daughter of Will and Jill and son of Phil and Bill, featuring DJ Electric Mayhem playing the greatest wedding hits of all time.

The banquet hall has pink drapery, a disco ball, colorful lights, and an ornate chandelier. This room is all tables and chairs with no booths. The chairs have gold backs and pink-red upholstery. There’s a dance floor in the middle of the room and garden trellises on the wall.

PizzeRizzo closes permanently along with MuppetVision 3D at the end of the day on June 7, 2025. It will be by a “Monsters, Inc.” land featuring a door coaster.

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Shannen Ace