Hard Rock Café among George Town business closures

The iconic Hard Rock Café, a signature restaurant on the George Town waterfront, is closing its doors at month’s end, more than 20 years after its establishment.

The popular restaurant, reopened in 2014 after a short closure, is one of three eateries closing down in the area. The others are Fort 51, formally Bluestone Lane and Bread and Chocolate Vegan Bistro in the heart of town.

Joining the list of closures across Grand Cayman is Steak Social on West Bay Road.

While Hard Rock Café and Steak Social will close 29 June, Fort 51 is set to close doors on 30 June. Meanwhile Bread and Chocolate has already ceased operations as of 1 June.

The Cayman Compass understands that in the case of Fort 51, it had dropped its franchise with Bluestone and was set to transition to a new brand, but that did not materialise, leading to the coming closure.

Hard Rock Café and Steak Social have indicated that their coming closures were related to commercial factors. In Bread and Chocolate’s case, the closure was attributed to the adverse impact of the extended roadworks in central George Town.

The restaurant highlighted the dust, noise and road closures in several Facebook posts.

The Cayman Compass reached out to the management team at Bread and Chocolate on the closure, but they declined to comment further on the issue.

CITA ‘disappointed’ by closures

Cayman Islands Tourism Association president Troy Leacock said he was “disappointed” to hear of the closure of three restaurants.

Leacock said he was aware that the renovation and road work in George Town had affected Bread and Chocolate. However, he was surprised at Steak Social’s closure.

Hard Rock Café, in a Facebook post Thursday night announcing its closure, said the decision, though difficult, comes as part of “a broader strategic shift for the brand and an evaluation of market conditions”.

“We are deeply grateful to the community of Grand Cayman and all our customers who have supported us over the years. The Hard Rock Café has been more than just a restaurant; it has been a place where memories were made, music was celebrated, and friendships were formed,” a message from management read.

Since the reopening of borders, Cayman has seen a continued decline of cruise calls, and a number of businesses, especially those on the George Town waterfront, have struggled.

Just this week, businesses that depend heavily on the cruise sector lamented the challenges they have been experiencing in the wake of the drop in cruise calls.

Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan has renewed his bid for a cruise pier referendum to determine whether Cayman should to invest in berthing infrastructure to allow arrival of bigger cruise ships.

Hard Rock Café has said that its closure will involve a structured wind-down process to ensure a smooth transition for employees and patrons.

“We are committed to supporting our team during this time and will be offering assistance to help them transition to new opportunities. The Hard Rock Café has been privileged to work with some of the best talent in the hospitality industry, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to each of our employees for their dedication and hard work,” it said.

Steak Social, located at Caribbean Plaza, announced its closure on its Facebook page saying, “the decision to close has been an incredibly difficult one”.

“We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support and your loyalty to our business over the past four and half years. Serving you has been a privilege, and we have cherished every moment and every memory created within our walls,” it said.