KISS’ Gene Simmons visits The Colony ahead of Rock and Brews opening
Korri Kezar | Dallas Business Journal
Though the restaurant is months away from opening, on Monday KISS bassist Gene Simmons visited The Colony, the site of Rock and Brews’ newest location.
Simmons and KISS front man Paul Stanley co-founded the Rock and Brews concept with Dave Furano, Dell Furano and Michael Zislis. Its first location opened in El Segundo, California, in 2012. The restaurant serves pizza, burgers, sandwiches and fish tacos complemented with local craft beers.
It has 11 locations and plans to grow to 75 to 100 stores in the next five years. Those growth plans could include another North Texas location, though Simmons adds he restaurant will stick with one for now.
About 100 city officials, business leaders and members of the media gathered under a white tent next to Nebraska Furniture Mart Monday afternoon to sample burgers, sandwiches, coleslaw and salad from Rock and Brews’ menu and hear Simmons speak.
“I’m here because we’re committed to this, we’re committed to Dallas,” he told the crowd. “You may not be a rock star, but we’re going to make you feel like a rock star.”
The Colony location, which will encompass 8,950 square feet, is set to open in January. Simmons hopes to open the doors on Jan. 1, and he and Stanley will return to North Texas on the heels of KISS’ world tour to launch the restaurant.
But before Rock and Brews officially opens for business, Simmons gave the Dallas Business Journal a taste of what to expect in the new eatery.
Rock and Brews places a heavy emphasis on veterans
At 10:45 a.m. every day at all Rock and Brews locations, the restaurants’ staffs stop what they are doing to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and listen to the first 30 seconds of Jimi Hendrix’s rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner.
The Colony location will be no different. On its first day, Simmons said the restaurant will be open only for veterans.
“Our philosophy is, one, honor God, country, and honor the military,” he added. “Day one is only for vets. They come, we honor them, we feed them and we give them a big fat check.”
Read Original Article at the Dallas Business Journal.
