RITA GILLIGAN, THE PERKY GALWAY NATIVE WHO SERVED AT THE ORIGINAL HARD ROCK CAFE ON HYDE PARK CORNER IN LONDON 22 YEARS AGO, VISITED ATLANTA RECENTLY TO SHOW THE LOCAL STAFF THE SORT OF UPBEAT STYLE THAT HAS MADE THE CAFES FAMOUS AROUND THE WORLD.
FOUNDED BY TWO AMERICANS IN THEIR 20S TO REPLICATE A TRUCKSTOP OFFERING HAMBURGERS, MILKSHAKES AND APPLE PIES, THE ORIGINAL CAFE ATTRACTED THE MOST GIFTED ROCK MUSICIANS IN LONDON. AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR MID-AGED WAITRESSES IN THE EVENING STANDARD WHO WOULD GIVE THE RIGHT SORT OF HOMEY TRUCK STOP IMAGE CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF MS. GILLIGAN, AND SHE HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMPANY EVER SINCE.
FROM THOSE EARLY DAYS, THE CAFE HAS SPREAD TO LOCATIONS AROUND THE WORLD INCLUDING ATLANTA, THE CHAIN’S YOUNGEST MEMBER WHICH OPENED IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR.
IRONICALLY, THE ORIGINAL CAFE REPRESENTED AMERICAN CULTURE, BUT TODAY THE CHAIN REFLECTS GLOBAL CULTURE. CUSTOMERS ARE AS LIKELY TO REMINISCE ABOUT VISITS THEY HAVE MADE TO HARD ROCK CAFES ABROAD AS VISITS THEY HAVE MADE TO HARD ROCK CAFES IN THE U.S..
WEARING A PLAIN WHITE UNIFORM BEDECKED BY DOZENS OF GUITAR PINS AND OTHER MEMORABILIA, MS. GILLIGAN PROVIDED THE EXAMPLE OF OUTGOING SERVICE FOR WHICH THE CAFES ARE KNOWN, AND WHICH IS BEING REPLICATED ON PEACHTREE STREET.
THE CURRENT OWNER, THE RANK ORGANISATION PLC., REPORTS THAT DESPITE RECESSIONARY CONDITIONS IN BOTH THE U.K. AND THE U.S., PROFITS ARE UP. THOMAS G. DELANEY, VICE PRESIDENT AND TREASURER OF RANK AMERICA, CITED THE CAFES’ MANAGEMENT AND DYNAMIC BUSINESS AS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS STRONG PROFITABILITY.
RANK IS AN EQUAL PARTNER WITH XEROX CORP. IN UNIVERSAL STUDIOS FLORIDA, A MAJOR THEME PARK IN ORLANDO WHERE ANOTHER HARD ROCK CAFE SELLS 6,000 MEALS A DAY. ATLANTA’S HARD ROCK, WHICH SERVES 15,000 MEALS A WEEK, STILL HAS TO CATCH UP, BUT WITH THE SUPER BOWL AND THE OLYMPICS COMING UP, AND PERIODIC VISITS BY MS. GILLIGAN, ATLANTA’S LOCATION WILL SOON BE ON PAR WITH OTHER GLOBAL HARD ROCK CAFES.