Located on the corner of Yonge Street in Dundas Square, the spectacular location will operate as a Hard Rock Cafe and the second floor will serve as the setting for a new nightclub. Upon its reopening, Toronto will once again enjoy two cafe locations with the newly revamped Dundas Square location joining the Hard Rock SkyDome, as well as four other Canadian Hard Rocks (Niagara Falls, Montreal, Ottawa and Kanata).

The Hard Rock Cafe enjoys a prime location in the revitalized Dundas Square area, which is destined to become the 'Times Square' of Toronto. The area, one of Canada's top tourists stops, which already draws more than 37 million annual visitors, is currently undergoing a spectacular makeover with new retail shops, restaurants, theaters and destination points. The area will include extravagant outdoor signage and billboards that will rival New York's Times Square.

The Hard Rock Cafe Toronto temporarily closed in June 2001 to undergo this massive overhaul taking more than six-months at a cost of more than $5 million.

�The Toronto location was the first Hard Rock Cafe in North America and just the second worldwide. We wanted to invest the time, energy and financial resources in making this one of the best Hard Rock Cafes in the world. Visitors won't recognize the 'new and improved' Hard Rock Cafe Toronto, but we're sure they'll love it,� said Pete Beaudrault, president and CEO of Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc.

�This year we celebrated our 30th anniversary and the Hard Rock brand has extended into hotels, resorts and casinos, in addition to our world-renowned cafes. Hard Rock has been synonymous with rock music for three decades and we look forward to the Hard Rock Toronto becoming a highlight of the revitalized Dundas Square area,� added Beaudrault.

For more information on Hard Rock Cafe, visit www.hardrock.com or your local Hard Rock Cafe location. Hard Rock Cafe, one of the most globally recognized music, entertainment and dining brands, has a network of more than 100 signature Hard Rock Cafes in 40 countries and a music memorabilia collection valued at nearly $32 million. Known for collectible and fashion merchandise, live concerts, Hard Rock Live performance venues, the Hard Rock Records music label, hardrock.com and Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos, Hard Rock Cafe International, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of London-based The Rank Group Plc (Nasdaq: RANKY).

Media contact:
Carol Beaugard At The MWW Group
Phone: 201-964-2470