The opening of Cambodia’s first Hard Rock Cafe, the iconic U.S. restaurant franchise known for its collections of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, will be delayed until April after the death of one of the partners on the project, company officials confirmed Wednesday.
The restaurant was scheduled to open in Siem Reap by January, but the death of businessman Alain Dupuis, whose Meas Development company was a partner on the restaurant, has delayed the project, said Hun Kimleng, chairwoman of Worldwide Investment Group, now the majority partner on the project.
At the opening of her new tax-consulting firm Wednesday, Ms. Kimleng said she has taken over the Hard Rock Cafe project.
“Alain was my partner and he was in charge, but now he passed away. That’s why I have taken over, so things have changed,” she said. Ros Rothavatey, assistant to Ms. Kimleng, said the restaurant would likely open in April.
Alain Dupuis passed away suddenly in November.
Before his death, Alain Dupuis said the Hard Rock Cafe will sport two bars, more than 300 seats, an all-day live orchestra and memorabilia from Cambodia’s own rock ‘n’ roll culture.
The restaurant will be located in the King’s Road Angkor development complex, a 5,000-square-meter, open-air shopping center.
A second Hard Rock Cafe is planned for Phnom Penh.
