Rock & Brews brings the best of food, brews and rock n roll culture to the table. Created by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of the legendary rock band KISS, the brand presents an authentic taste of rock n roll. The first location opened in 2012 in El Segundo and has since opened more than 20 locations around the country including a stunning ground-up build in Buena Park.
“Rock & Brews’ continued success stems from the unique concept of combining rock n roll, classic American food, and a fun, energizing atmosphere,” Adam Goldberg, CEO of Rock & Brews, told us. “Rock & Brews appeals to many customers—from families to music enthusiasts, beer lovers, and even dogs. Additionally, Rock & Brews has a strong focus on hospitality which has helped build loyalty and frequency. Our ability to adapt to local tastes and customize preferences allows Rock & Brews to connect with each community. It has made it easier for Rock & Brews to expand into new markets.”
Rock & Brews Expands Throughout America
The restaurants have expanded quickly around the country, with many locations partnering with Native American gaming properties. “Rock & Brews has formed partnerships with several casinos across the United States,” Goldberg explained. “These partnerships include our first-ever Rock & Brews Casino in Braman, OK, with KAW Nation and Rock & Brews restaurants within casinos—Yaamava’ Resort & Casino and Rolling Hills Casino. We are opening two more locations in Potawatomi Hotel & Casino and Ilani Resort Casino later this year. Rock & Brews serves the need of guests who are looking for dining options and live music entertainment within the casino. Rock & Brews is a marketing tool to increase foot traffic for the casinos by fueling the fun of gaming with delicious food, an energizing environment and a place for live music.”
The Rock & Brews brand prides itself on the unique design of each location—no two locations are the same. “Customization is extremely important to the Rock & Brews brand. We have the ability to give each location its unique look and feel without straying away from our core identity,” Goldberg said of the venues. “The layout and design of the restaurant may be customized to match the aesthetic of the local area and pay tribute to the unique culture and music of the region. We always incorporate local artwork, murals, or other design elements that are relevant to the local community. Menu: Rock & Brews has its core National menu items, but we like to modify the menu to include regional favorites.”
Unlike brands that provide a parody or disingenuous look at culture, the rock n roll lifestyle at Rock & Brews is authentic to its core. “Rockstar Collaborations for Rock & Brews has been an incredible way to connect the music DNA of the brand to the experience inside the restaurant,” Goldberg told us. “These promotions are National and have gathered some fun and exciting press such as Rolling Stone, Forbes, and Nation’s Restaurant News. Some of our latest rockstar collaborations and partnerships include KISS, Alice Cooper, Jon Bon Jovi and son Jesse Bongiovi, and Rick Nielsen. With KISS Cold Gin, we created a cocktail with the band’s gin and had a collectible guitar pick to collect for each band member. With Alice Cooper’s hot sauce, we created Alice Cooper’s Poison Burger, and in turn, the Poison Challenge was born, which included a fun life-size standee of Alice Cooper in each restaurant which encouraged our guests to take a picture after eating the burger and post to social media. During the summer, we partnered with Jon Bon Jovi & Jesse Bongiovi’s Hampton Water Rose and created a frosé that was light and refreshing. Our newest partnership is with Rick Nielsen of CheapTrick and his ROCKN Vodka. We designed the California Man cocktail, which also includes a branded guitar pick to collect and a fun checkered straw to pay tribute to CheapTrick.”
The menus are also different, with regional specialties at each location. “Rock & Brews has 12 core items that can be found at every location,” Goldberg said of the menu. “However, we like to take the local tastes and preferences into consideration and will feature items that are popular in the local market. Some of the tried and true classics that fans can always expect to find on the menu include our Giant Soft Authentic Bavarian Pretzel, our famous Sweet & Spicy Asian Wings, the Gastropub burger, and the Purple Rain Drops, which are chocolate-filled beignets with raspberry sauce. In addition to these classics, Rock & Brews also features seasonal and limited-time menu items to stay on trend and keep the menu fresh. Overall, the menu at Rock & Brews offers something for everyone, from meat lovers to vegetarians.”
