Hard Rock Cafe Shuts 10 Outlets Across India, Hyderabad Among Them
HYDERABAD: Hard Rock Cafe has shut down its 10 franchise outlets across major Indian cities, including Hyderabad, after ending its partnership with JSM Corporation. However, the Goa outlet will continue to operate, the company said.
The closures, effective March 16, affected Bengaluru (St. Marks Road, Whitefield, Kempegowda International Airport), Hyderabad (Banjara Hills and HITEC City), New Delhi (Connaught Place), Chennai (Nungambakkam), Pune, Kolkata, and Chandigarh.
Hard Rock International confirmed that it terminated its franchise agreements with JSM Corporation. The company did not disclose the reasons for the split. Analysts noted that the closures leave a gap in prime commercial real estate. Consequently, international or local hospitality brands will likely move in quickly.
For over two decades, Hard Rock Cafe has been a staple of India’s urban nightlife. It entered the Indian market in the early 2000s and gained fame for live music, Western-style dining, and rock-and-roll memorabilia. Under JSM Corporation’s management, the brand expanded rapidly and attracted corporate IT employees as well as a growing middle-class audience in cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
“The closure may affect hundreds of employees and local suppliers who have worked with Hard Rock for years,” said a hospitality industry analyst.
