It maddened masses in London, shocked crowds Paris and fascinated fans in New York - Hard Rock Café makes its debut in Budapest.
Hard Rock International announced opening its first shop in Hungary in the heart of a pulsating city, on the corner of Vörösmarty Square and Váci Street. The owner and manager of the Budapest restaurant is Bigosz Kft. The four-level, almost 1100 square-meter club and restaurant awaits residents and foreigners alike with 220 seats, a hustling-bustling bar, live music stage and Rock Shop. On the walls of the Budapest Hard Rock one can marvel at the unique pieces of the biggest rock collection ever. Among the relics are hand-written letters by Madonna, Janis Joplin’s purse, Slash’s vest, Michael Jackson’s hat, Prince’s, George Michael’s and Lenny Kravitz’s guitars, Mick Jagger’s suit, Richie Sambora’s stage dress (Christina Aguilera’s and Bon Jovi’s guitarist) and Tina Turner’s shiny, black, glass-heeled shoes.
“As Hard Rock continues its expansion across Europe, we are pleased to open our first location within Hungary, a country that is very important to our brand,” said Antonio Bautista, Senior Director – Europe, Middle East & Africa Franchise Operations & Development, Hard Rock International. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with franchise partner Bigosz Kft., and sharing the Hard Rock experience with Budapest locals and visitors.”
Guests of HRC Budapest are offered such dishes made of fresh local ingredients as the world-wide favorite “Legendary Experience courses, the appetizing, 10-ounce Legendary Burger or the long-time perfected slowly cooked Hickory Bar-B-Que ribs and chicken of Smokehouse delicacies. And if all of this wouldn’t be enough the experience is augmented with the award-winning Hard Rock drink specialties, such as the Hurricane, the different Margaritas or the alcohol-free wonders named Alternative Rock, all of which can be bought in the souvenir glassware, too. The Rock Shop has unique items inspired by rock and roll. The special products in Budapest design can only be purchased here, of course, and you can find some signature pins to complete your collection.
Hard Rock has been an avid supporter of charity initiations since its 1971 founding, so it comes naturally that Hard Rock Cafe Budapest lays just as great stress on charity. Hard Rock employees all over the world find it especially important to be useful members of the community and Hard Rockers of Budapest will be no different when it comes to donating food or drinks or simply do some physical work in order to help their community. Additionally, their devotion goes as far as supporting such world-wide Hard Rock initiations as Pinktober, a campaign against breast cancer, Imagine, another against famine or Signature Series events, that are brought into life by rock icons themselves.
Hard Rock International is one of the most well-known brands in the world with 172 venues in 52 countries, 136 of which are Cafés, 15 are hotel and casino complexes. Hard Rock has grown to be the largest rock museum starting from the single item of Eric Clapton’s guitar. The collection is spread amongst the Cafés in numerous countries over the world. The Hard Rock brand’s fame is further … by its collectible music-related souvenirs and clothes, clubs with live music and award-winning web site.
Apart from the flagship shops in Tampa and Hollywood, which are also hotels and casinos, one can find other Hard Rock casinos in Las Vegas, Biloxi, Orlando, Chicago, San Diego, Pattaya, Bali, Macau, Beijing, Singapore and Punta Cana. Further hotel and casino investments are the Panama Megapolis expected to open in 2011, Cancun and Vallarta in 2012 and Riviera Maya, Hungary, Dubai and Abu Dhabi in 2013.
