rolling stone magazine to launch restaurant chain

Inspired by the iconic magazine that continues to help define the pulse and power of music and pop culture, the first U.S. Rolling Stone (www.RollingStone.com) venue will open at Los Angeles's popular Hollywood and Highland Center (www.HollywoodandHighland.com) in the summer of 2010. The announcement was made today by the venue's founders - Lucky Rug Group principals Niall Donnelly and Joe Altounian - with legendary Rolling Stone editor and publisher Jann S. Wenner.

Ideally situated among some of the country's most famous and historic attractions, including the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grauman's Chinese Theater and the Kodak Theatre, the multi-level Rolling Stone space will encompass more than 10,000-square feet and serve as an exciting blend of equal parts restaurant, bar, lounge and upscale private-event space. Designed by Brodin Design (www.brodindesignbuild.com), the venue will reflect the progressive timelessness for which Rolling Stone is known - featuring exposed black brick, tufted leather and vaulted ceilings throughout the location, as well as a stunning antique iron staircase.

Rolling Stone magazine is widely regarded as the predominant music authority in American culture. Commenting on the new Hollywood venue, the magazine's founder and publisher Wenner said, "We've been looking for the ideal opportunity to expand the Rolling Stone brand for some time and we are thrilled to be working with Lucky Rug Group. Southern California and the city of Los Angeles are deeply entrenched in the history of both Rolling Stone and rock music, and we're excited to bring to life Rolling Stone magazine in Hollywood through what will be a very special place."

Ownership of Lucky Rug Group is comprised of entrepreneurs Niall Donnelly and Joe Altounian. A serial entrepreneur, Donnelly is known for his ability to create lucrative business opportunities in unforeseen sectors, having spent more than 12 years owning and operating some of the most popular and successful bars and clubs in the United Kingdom and Ireland, including Anam Bar, Slim Jim's Liquor Store, the Woodbine, the Blue Note, Blackjack Liquor Shack and many more. The Irish Times recently named the long-haired and tattooed Donnelly in the top 10 Irish "Entrepreneurs to Watch" worldwide, in large part for his unconventional creativity and vision of delivering the same kind of successful business acumen in the U.S. that he has achieved in the U.K.

With over 10 years in the Southern California commercial and residential real estate industry, Altounian has played an integral role in numerous condo conversions and land entitlement projects. Donnelly and Altounian created the Lucky Rug Group in 2009 and have leveraged their extensive knowledge of nightlife properties and the real estate industry to bring the first-ever Rolling Stone venue to Los Angeles.

"For those who love music and pop culture, the words 'Rolling Stone' continue to mean so much to so many people around the world, especially in the U.S.," said Donnelly. "We are both excited and determined to bring the spirit of the magazine to life - the edginess, the coolness, the classiness and the timelessness - in making this venue a place to see and be seen in."

"The Rolling Stone brand transcends age, gender and musical preference and we are committed in making sure that everything that encompasses the Rolling Stone space at Hollywood and Highland Center will reflect that," added Altounian. "Our vision is to provide guests with unforgettable food and entertainment with the unmistakable Rolling Stone style as the backdrop."

"five star" burgers & fries

"We're excited to bring to life Rolling Stone magazine in Hollywood through what will be a very special place."

lmao

We'll start with the Ben Fondue-Torres, and then I'll have the PJ O'Roast Beef with a side of Anthony DeCurly Fries.

Hard Rock Cafe Magazine, what are you waiting for?

We'll start with the Ben Fondue-Torres, and then I'll have the PJ O'Roast Beef with a side of Anthony DeCurly Fries.

― da croupier, Saturday, December 5, 2009 8:30 AM (6 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

and ill have the jann WEINER!!!

^self-rejected post I would have made

"Can I get your Chicken Frickeassee?"

"the lester"

1 lb ground beef slow marinated in cough syrup

"For dessert, we have the Dave Marshmallow mud pie..."

the iconic magazine that continues to help define the pulse and power of music and pop culture,

I stopped reading right there.

ice cold, snrub. ice cold.

you had been taking the article fairly seriously up until that point tho i gather

Death by Fear, Loathing, and Chocolate

PUNS

do you think the hard rock cafe guys are sweating this or

doubtful...I think rolling stone will probably tailor itself to the under-served soft rock foodies

anyone who eats here will probably get exactly what they want out of a restaurant

yeah, theres definitely an under-exploited "soft rock" market that i dont think hard rock cafe really caters to

sorry i seem to have just made the joke you made, all over again

"soft rock foodies" eh? somehow I don't this place is gunning for the chowhound set.

"We are both excited and determined to bring the spirit of the magazine to life - the edginess, the coolness, the classiness and the timelessness - in making this venue a place to see and be seen in."

Dr Gonzo's Bourbon Tasting Flight?

OREO Speedcookie

I know even less about the restaurant business than the magazine or music business but this just seems like a flat-out crazy stupid idea, even considering the source.

house salad dressing - 'green goddess in the doorway'

"Los Angeles's popular Hollywood and Highland Center

^^^^ only if "popular" now means sad, tacky and commercially unstable

3 1/2 stars

After 42 years, Rolling Stone is still an authority on popular culture, Schenck said, and half its readers are under 30. The Hollywood venue is intended to capture the irreverence of its covers, such as recent fronts with singer Lady Gaga apparently dressed only in bubbles and teen actor Taylor Lautner in a wet T-shirt.

Irreverence... for clothing?

there are probably many cases to be made for the date at which the point of this magazine dropped off the cliff, but i think every valid date in that list is at least 25 years ago or earlier.

I mean this is pretty clearly just "Print is dying, our magazine grows more and more irrelevant, what the fuck do we do to keep milking the brand" right?

http://www.hulu.com/watch/10310/saturday-night-live-bad-idea-jeans

rolling stone writer to launch coffee at your face

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2010/02/this_is_what_happens_if_you_te.html

"YOU IDIOTS!"

I thought it was a classy move. I can't tell ya'll how many times I've wanted to throw a cup of coffee in your collective face.

Report

By seamus99 on 02/25/2010 at 10:15am

“Fuck you,” he snarled, and then picked up his mug from the table, threw his coffee at me, and stormed out.

The restaurant was packed with customers, and they all turned to watch as I sat there, stunned, coffee dripping from my face. The waiter arrived with the milkshake Taibbi had ordered.

beautiful

http://images.nymag.com/images/2/daily/2009/12/20091211_matttaibbi_146x97.jpghttp://images.nymag.com/images/2/daily/2009/12/20091211_matttaibbi_146x97.jpghttp://images.nymag.com/images/2/daily/2009/12/20091211_matttaibbi_146x97.jpghttp://images.nymag.com/images/2/daily/2009/12/20091211_matttaibbi_146x97.jpghttp://images.nymag.com/images/2/daily/2009/12/20091211_matttaibbi_146x97.jpg

is that baseball cap hiding baldness or UNRELENTING RAGE

"i have come here to drink milkshakes and kick ass.. and i'm all outta milkshakes"

i lol'd

"i'm sorry, baby. it's just this war....and that lying sonofabitch Johnson!"

http://www.thetodayexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/matt-pins.jpg

http://cdn.cstatic.net/cache/gallery/5204/5244728424_4486d9bd64_o.jpg

http://cdn.cstatic.net/cache/gallery/5288/5244728822_209f2811f8_o.jpg

rip

The Rolling Stone Restaurant in the Hollywood & Highland complex in Los Angeles has shuttered. Yes, that's Rolling Stone, the magazine. Despite the fact that the restaurant seemed to be doing good business up until recently, Eater LA reports that "ownership has pulled out of its lease and a new, as yet unconfirmed, concept is expected to begin operating in the space by June." The restaurant opened in 2011.

Those still interested in eating in magazine-themed restaurants can head to Condé Nast's GQ and Vogue related restaurants in Moscow and forthcoming projects in Dubai, Kiev, and Istanbul.

Too bad. I'd totally eat in that Who room.