Hard Rock International has terminated its licensing partnership with JSM Corporation, revoking the latter’s rights to operate Hard Rock Cafes and Rock Shops across India, the company said in a LinkedIn post on Monday.
The move resulted in closure of 10 outlets across India including those in Bengaluru (city and airport), Bengaluru Whitefield, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad (including Hitech City), Kolkata, New Delhi and Pune.
The company clarified that the Hard Rock Hotel Goa will continue to operate as it is managed by a separate organisation. Hard Rock International has not announced any plans to appoint a new licensing partner in India to run the establishments.
The company did not disclose the reasons for ending the partnership or provide additional details about the development.
Owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Hard Rock International is a global hospitality and entertainment company operating in nearly 80 countries with more than 300 venues, including cafes, hotels, casinos and Rock Shops.
Hard Rock Cafe opened its first outlet in Mumbai in early 2006, followed by Bengaluru in December 2007.
The brand traces its origins to 1971 when Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton founded Hard Rock Cafe in London. In 1979, the cafe began decorating its walls with rock-and-roll memorabilia, a tradition that later spread to its outlets worldwide, alongside its food and entertainment offerings.