The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Hard Rock Café (Nassau) is set to reopen at its former Charlotte Street location “in the next few weeks” the franchise’s parent company announced yesterday, revealing that the building’s landlord will be the new franchisee.

Hard Rock International said that Marvin Pinder of Thirty 3 Limited will become the new Hard Rock franchisee for the Nassau market, and that the cafe will remain at the same location.

“We are thrilled that we will be maintaining the iconic brand in Nassau and contributing to the vast offering of vacation experiences that the Bahamas has to offer,” said Michael Beacham, vice-president of Franchise for Hard Rock International.

“We are confident that the brand will flourish in Nassau under Mr. Pinder’s leadership and we are working diligently together to save as many local jobs as possible.”

Messages left for Mr Pinder were not returned up to press time yesterday.

The rock ‘n’ roll-?themed restaurant closed its doors earlier this year and went into voluntary liquidation, leaving some 38 employees out of work. The franchise had continued operating for almost three months after its rights to use the brand were terminated.

The Nassau franchise’s existence has been in question since mid-2013, when it became apparent that one of the franchise holders at the time, Ireland-based Kevin Doyle, was encountering business difficulties. Mr Doyle was forced to shut down his Grand Cayman-based Hard Rock Café franchise in June, after alleged legal issues over non-payment of fees arose with the parent company.

Hard Rock International has a total of 180 venues in 55 countries, including 140 cafes, 19 hotels and nine casinos.