Bye Bye Hard Rock

[dtowncitylover]

Hard Rock to close in January...

https://www.freep.com/story/news/loc...5IbYbUP8U4aAfU

[Danny]

First Chelli's then Hard Rock Cafe! PITIFUL!!! Where they are going to move to? Great Lakes Crossing Mall!!!

[401don]

I don't think anyone is surprised.They are well past their expired date as the latest cool new entry downtown and there's a lot more burger/ bar competition. Still, I wonder how much is due to slow business and how much to rising rent. Gilbert still has a lot of storefronts to fill and he already pushed out Angelina's and now this.

[Maof]

Was just out east last week and noticed one out there. I'm surprised they lasted this long.

[Atticus]

The Hard Rock always seemed like a better fit for Illitchtown than Gilbertown. Gilbertown is much more geared to locals [[both workers and residents of MetroDetroit).

The Hard Rock brand appeals more towards out of town visitors, who are not as familiar with the better restaurant options in Downtown. Maybe Hard Rock could reopen in Illitch’s Bloomfield Park South development at Henry and Park.

[iheartthed]

The Hard Rock always seemed like a better fit for Illitchtown than Gilbertown. Gilbertown is much more geared to locals [[both workers and residents of MetroDetroit).

The Hard Rock brand appeals more towards out of town visitors, who are not as familiar with the better restaurant options in Downtown. Maybe Hard Rock could reopen in Illitch’s Bloomfield Park South development at Henry and Park.

I agree. Is the Foxtown Grille space still open? That would be perfect for Hard Rock.

[hybridy]

Illitch’s Bloomfield Park South development at Henry and Park.

lol....fcuk yea. complete with a 2-story menards please

[corktownyuppie]

Company reps say they're looking for alternate locations in Detroit. That is absolute prime real estate. They'll either fill it quickly, or they'll wait for the right tenant.

[SammyS]

I go to Texas de Brazil often and it’s always packed so it’s obviously not the location. Could be rent, could be that it’s too bland for Detroit. IDK

[Scottathew]

I have worked in that building since 2010 and have been there maybe a handful of times.

[stasu1213]

I think that Hard Rock Cafe should move to Midtown in one of the newly renovated storefronts along Woodward or inside LCA. If not, maybe into one of the strip mall along Jefferson close to downtown. Maybe Jefferson and CHENE where Luckys was

[Hypestyles]

oh well. nice while it lasted I guess. what will be done with the big guitar? And I guess the memorabilia will go elsewhere?

[yaktown]

oh well. nice while it lasted I guess. what will be done with the big guitar? And I guess the memorabilia will go elsewhere?

The big guitar and all the memorabilia will go back to their warehouse in Orlando. Here's a good article about that: http://www.vh1.com/news/51401/inside...rabilia-vault/

[Gistok]

Going inside LCA would be a death knell... zero visitors on non game days.

It would be nice to see them take over the Chelios Chili location... I've been to several Hard Rock locations, [[Paris and London included) and no two are alike. Midtown [[Woodward frontage) would also be cool.

[Honky Tonk]

zero visitors on non game days.

Close to zero visitors ON game days....

[gnome]

Never, ever even thought of going. That doesn’t make me a snob, just an oldish fool who would never desire to see signed toilet seats hung up and framed.

I don’t understand the concept.

It’s not like Robert Palmer or even Wally Palmer is going to be at the next table asking to use your salt shaker. What is so hard or rocking about the place?

Since I sound so crabby, can someone convince me the place was cool with killer burgers or something?

[Honky Tonk]

Never, ever even thought of going. That doesn’t make me a snob, just an oldish fool who would never desire to see signed toilet seats hung up and framed.

I don’t understand the concept.

It’s not like Robert Palmer or even Wally Palmer is going to be at the next table asking to use your salt shaker. What is so hard or rocking about the place?

Since I sound so crabby, can someone convince me the place was cool with killer burgers or something?

I went to one years ago @ the height of it's popularity. [[families walking around in t-shirts, leather jackets, etc. "Hard Rock Cafe -London") to see what all the brew-ha-ha was about. The fare was corporate chain-store, over priced, mediocre, and clientele was more interested in purchasing souvenirs then what they were eating. Remember "Rain Forest Cafe"? Another disappointment.

[401don]

I went to one years ago @ the height of it's popularity. [[families walking around in t-shirts, leather jackets, etc. "Hard Rock Cafe -London") to see what all the brew-ha-ha was about. The fare was corporate chain-store, over priced, mediocre, and clientele was more interested in purchasing souvenirs then what they were eating. Remember "Rain Forest Cafe"? Another disappointment.

They seem to do well in tourist area-downtown Toronto, Niagara Falls, etc. Not sure if others have closed but they may be going the way of ESPN Zone and Planet Hollywood. I agree with the other post that the Foxtown Grille would be the best space - visible and close to the arena and Comerica. Would Ilitch let them have it though and compete with his LCA rests.?

[Smirnoff]

I went to one years ago @ the height of it's popularity. [[families walking around in t-shirts, leather jackets, etc. "Hard Rock Cafe -London") to see what all the brew-ha-ha was about. The fare was corporate chain-store, over priced, mediocre, and clientele was more interested in purchasing souvenirs then what they were eating. Remember "Rain Forest Cafe"? Another disappointment.

Only remember "Top of the Flame".

[iheartthed]

Never, ever even thought of going. That doesn’t make me a snob, just an oldish fool who would never desire to see signed toilet seats hung up and framed.

I don’t understand the concept.

It’s not like Robert Palmer or even Wally Palmer is going to be at the next table asking to use your salt shaker. What is so hard or rocking about the place?

Since I sound so crabby, can someone convince me the place was cool with killer burgers or something?

The food was standard fast casual chain food. It is a step above a TGIFridays, but certainly not going far out of your way to find one, if you're only going for the food. They were successful in selling a brand, but the concept is well past its prime. The hook was to set up in a "cool" destination and sell Hard Rock branded t-shirts with the destination's name. It was a non-obnoxious way of telling everyone where you went for vacation.

[Meddle]

I don’t understand the concept.

It’s not like Robert Palmer or even Wally Palmer is going to be at the next table asking to use your salt shaker.

At one time at the first few locations, that's exactly what might have happened. It was almost touted as a family friendly Studio 54 kind of place where one might indeed rub elbows with top name rock stars.

But as usual, greed took over and well ....

[Richard]

Never, ever even thought of going. That doesn’t make me a snob, just an oldish fool who would never desire to see signed toilet seats hung up and framed.

I don’t understand the concept.

It’s not like Robert Palmer or even Wally Palmer is going to be at the next table asking to use your salt shaker. What is so hard or rocking about the place?

Since I sound so crabby, can someone convince me the place was cool with killer burgers or something?

Their large headquarters in Orlando was built and shuttered within a couple of years,their Disney world location was always packed as a Americana type thing,but the food was blase at best.

I went one time,it was kinda cool on the things hanging on the wall aspect
as a first time visit but not really something that compelled one to return.

Interesting enough there is a chain or franchise that is opening up what is called Fords Garage a blue oval theme with the cars hanging from the ceiling etc. $70 for 3 burgers and fries,2 beers and a sweet tea.

Same as the Hard rock,go there to see the stuff and the food is secondary it seems.

I can go see a model T at the car show and eat a nasty hot dog for $10 for the same results.

[msamslex]

Years ago my next door neighbor took my daughter & his neice to eat @ Hard Rock. They were young kids then & probably somewhat impressed with the place. Don’t remember what they thought of the food.

I told my now in her mid 20s daughter they were closing & she said people don’t go to places like that anymore.

[p1acebo]

Years ago my next door neighbor took my daughter & his neice to eat @ Hard Rock. They were young kids then & probably somewhat impressed with the place. Don’t remember what they thought of the food.

I told my now in her mid 20s daughter they were closing & she said people don’t go to places like that anymore.

She's right, a long with TGI Fridays, Chili's, and Applebee's.

[Towne Cluber]

She's right, a long with TGI Fridays, Chili's, and Applebee's.

Except most [[working/middle class) Detroiters DO like Friday’s, Chili’s, and Applebee’s. The narrative surrounding food in Detroit is a prime example of a divide in taste and culture that many on all sides fail to understand and appreciate.