Among music enthusiasts, the Hard Rock Cafe serves as an establishment that not only offers delectable food and drinks but also celebrates music.
With its extensive collection of memorabilia owned by iconic figures in music spanning various genres, along with a reputation for holding live music performances from both established and budding artists, Hard Rock Cafe has cemented itself as a place that guarantees fun and entertainment for its customers.
As part of its move to expand its presence in the Philippines, the cafe has opened its third branch in the thriving area of Clark, Pampanga, at the Hann Casino Resort. Taking on a contemporary pop design, Hard Rock Cafe Clark is a 125-seater establishment that features a wide array of music memorabilia from renowned artists, ranging from the rock band Led Zeppelin to singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse, decorating its walls.
Speaking with Manila Standard Life during the cafe’s opening on Dec. 7, Hard Rock International Vice President for Business and Development in Franchise Operations Global Tom Perez shared that the branch in Clark’s contemporary design aimed to capture Hard Rock’s youthful charm despite being a 53-year-old brand.
“I think what you’ll see in this cafe is that it’s very different from the ones in Manila and Makati. This is the new look and feel of Hard Rock—very contemporary, very clean,” said Perez.
Compared to the previous branches, Hard Rock Cafe Clark notably has less music memorabilia which Perez explained was because they wanted its showcased collection to be less overwhelming, only having key pieces decorating its walls.
He added, “It’s just part of the way we want to do things now. A lot cleaner, a lot crisper.”
The Clark branch also features a stage above the bar, which has already been seen in some of its international establishments. Apart from the usual collectible merchandise available at its Rock Shop, there are also a few items available that are exclusively sold in the branch such as shirts with prints featuring Clark, Pampanga, and its cultural offerings.
Customers will also be able to enjoy an extensive menu of classic American cuisine such as pepperoni flatbread, tupelo chicken tenders, caesar salad shooters, and many others. Some of its cocktail offerings include the Hurricane, Electric Blues, and the Rockin’ Fresh Rita.
With Hard Rock Cafe Clark aiming to make a positive impact to Central Luzon’s hospitality and entertainment sector through its iconic offerings to guests within the area, Perez said that customers will be able to experience the charm that has led to the brand’s success throughout the decades, making them want to come back for more.
“One of the big mistakes that people make is that Hard Rock Cafe is only going to be about hard rock. It’s not. We can have K-pop, hard rock, soft rock. In some tropical countries, we have bachata, Latin, and reggae. It’s all about music,” he said.
The official opening of the branch in Clark saw a cake-cutting ceremony in lieu of a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony as well as exciting performances from the local dance troupe WTG Cultural Dancers, the Hard Rock Cafe staff, and singer-songwriter Jinkee Vidal.
