Hard Rock Cafe to close September 30
That giant guitar hanging off the side of Block E will strum its last chord at the end of this month. The Hard Rock Cafe--part of an international chain of eateries known more for their music memorabilia than their food--had almost a 10 year run, having been one of the complex's first tenants back in 2002.
Panoramio/matchboxND Hard Rocked for nearly a decade.
The Hard Rock brand, founded in the '70s, has lost some of its luster over the years. (I think I had a sweatshirt from the one in Seoul or maybe Hong Kong gifted to me by a well-traveled cousin back when I was in grade school.) But the Star Tribune reports that the Hard Rock's PR firm suggested declining sales did not spur the decision, and, instead, cited "challenges" with the Block E site--possibly alluding to the new owners' recent proposal to redevelop the facility into a luxury casino.
Block E has lost most of its major tenants, including its Hooters, Applebee's, and Panchero's restaurants. Panchero's claimed to have been forced out of its lease, a charge that Block E ownership denies.
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