KISS icons Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons coming to O.C. to open Rock & Brews in Buena Park
By NANCY LUNA / Orange County Register
Rock icons Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of KISS will headline the grand opening parties next month for their rock �n roll themed restaurant Rock & Brews in Buena Park.
The 399-seat restaurant, with a towering, 68-foot tall guitar neck marquee, resembles the exterior of the Hard Rock Cafe establishments. It�s expected to open during Labor Day Weekend, according to a company statement released Wednesday.
A representative for the restaurant declined to provide the exact opening date. But according to the Rock & Brews� Facebook page, the restaurant is expected to have a �soft opening� Thursday, Aug. 20.
Conceived by Simmons and Stanley, the 3-year-old brand features casual American food and craft beer served in an �atmosphere reminiscent of a family-friendly concert environment,� the company said. The Buena Park location is the largest of nine Rock & Brews restaurants in the U.S. It sports a play area for children, a beach volleyball court and a dog-friendly patio.
But don�t expect a House of Blues environment.
Reps for the chain said Rock & Brews is not a �performance� venue. The
indoor stage can be used for special events or private functions, the company said.
On Sept. 15, Simmons and Stanley plan to be in Orange County to host a series of grand opening parties, including an afternoon charity event that will benefit Buena Park VFW Post 8954. The grand opening celebration will conclude with the induction of a KISS album into the Rock & Roll Walk of Fame at 6 p.m. That event is open to the public.
The first Rock & Brews opened in 2012 in El Segundo. Others are in Redondo Beach, LAX Terminal 5, Carson (StubHub Center), Maui, Kansas and New Mexico. The brand, which is expanding through franchising, has two additional locations in Mexico.
Jon Mesko is the Buena Park franchisee. He also operates the Rock & Brews in Redondo Beach.
�I am proud to bring Rock & Brews to Buena Park, and cannot wait for the local community to experience it firsthand,� he said.
The property, at 7777 Beach Blvd., is among 20.6 acres that are being revitalized by multiple developers. The restaurant is expected to take in about $4 million in annual sales, according to a city staff report.
Private KISS Party
Want to attend a private KISS party with Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley? On Sept. 15, the two rock icons will be hosting a private party from 4 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $100 per person and include a red carpet arrival, two adult beverages per person or unlimited soft drinks, a sampling of Rock & Brews cuisine and a chance to mingle with Stanley and Simmons.
Buy tickets: www.eventbrite.com
