Belgrade yet to get Hard Rock Cafe – Search for location hampering EUR 5 million investment?

Not even two years after the announcement did Belgrade get a restaurant from the renowned world chain Hard Rock Cafe. As the Montenegrin portal Investitor writes, the reason is the lack of adequate space in the center of the capital of Serbia.

The first Hard Rock Cafe in the region opened in Podgorica in February 2015 within the Capital Plaza business center. The investor was Abu Dhabi Financial Group (ADFG).

ADFG, in cooperation with Hard Rock International, became owner of the Hard Rock Cafe franchise in southeast Europe.

– We are intensively looking for a location in Belgrade's center. What seemed to have meet the standards of Hard Rock Cafe in the very center of Belgrade turned out to be under an ownership dispute, and the company's position is to strictly avoid entering arrangements featuring any kind of encumbrance – they company which owns the franchise of this renowned restaurant, hotel and casino chain said unofficially.

In late 2016, it was reported that hard Rock Cafe Belgrade will be built in the Obilicev Venac Street, where the Vapiano restaurant used to be, but this never happened.

– All this has blocked the further investment, estimated at around EUR 5 million, and the employment of around 20 workers in Belgrade. We still hope to solve this problem through our intensive contacts in the market and to continue expanding the franchise in the region – Investitor's source said.

Hard Rock International Orlando

Hard Rock Cafe

Abu Dhabi Financial Group

ADFG

Hard Rock Cafe Belgrade

Hard Rock Cafe Podgorica

Hard Rock International

Hard Rock Cafe franchise

Obilicev Venac Street

Vapiano restaurant

Ruski Car restaurant