Old San Juan Hard Rock Cafe closing today
Hard Rock Cafe in Old San Juan
Nearly two decades after arriving on the island with its famous burgers, rock ‘n’ roll music and iconic memorabilia, Hard Rock Cafe will be closing its Old San Juan restaurant effective today, company officials announced Friday.
However, the closing may not represent the disappearance of the chain from the island, where it has been doing business since 1993, as company officials said they are working on relocating the restaurant. It remained unclear Friday how many jobs would be affected as a result of the abrupt closing.
“San Juan is an important market for Hard Rock International and the brand has a strong desire to remain in the marketplace,” the company said in a brief statement issued Friday morning. “In alignment with the Hard Rock’s vision, the company will attempt to relocate the restaurant under company or franchise ownership to a more vibrant and strategic location in San Juan allowing for greater opportunities for the brand.”
Executives said they are “actively exploring strategic locations for Hard Rock Cafe in Puerto Rico and a number of sites are currently under consideration,” without revealing the eatery’s potential new address.
The Hard Rock Cafe’s local history has not been without its ups and downs. In July 2003, a fire swept through its 300-year-old Recinto Sur location forcing the restaurant to close at that time. More than one year after the fire, September 2004 marked the beginning of a $1.5 million renovation project and the Hard Rock Cafe San Juan reopened its doors to the public once again in January 2005.
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