Don't worry about Disney. They're doing just fine. If the DR landed Disney, it would be the shot heard around the Caribbean.
- Thread starter NALs
- Start date
Hard Rock Café Puerto Plata?
Apperently there was a Hard Rock cafe in Playa Dorada before (my wife told me this) and if you look here, I can belief it:
My guess would be that the new one comes or in Playa Dorada or in the new shopping centre next to Jumbo
My guess would be that the new one comes or in Playa Dorada or in the new shopping centre next to Jumbo
That one never went bankrupt, it simply moved from Columbus Park to Blue Mall. It's still there in Blue Mall. It has a mostly Dominican clientele.
It's similar to the one out in the Punta Cana area. First it was in Palma Real, then it moved to Blue Mall PC and now it has its own separate location in Down Town PC. It's the same Hard Rock Café. This one depends more on tourists than the one in the Capital.
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I will agree to disagree...Although it may well be in Playa Dorada it could possibly be close to Taino Bay. Three major Caribbean ports of call, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen and Grand Cayman have Hard Rock Cafe's next to the cruise ship arrivals area (Cozumel has an actual cruise ship terminal whilst Grand Cayman and Playa del Carmen had tender berths) and there is a reason that they are located where they are. I worked on cruise ships for 5 years and I saw where many passengers went once off the ships with many going to places that they were familiar with, especially the fast food chains (very sad, I must say). With over 70 ships coming to Puerto Plata each month, that is a huge amount of tourists which surpasses the amount of tourists in Playa Dorada per month. Also, do not discard the crew members. They love a place to hang out and they spend a lot of money too (although nowadays the prices of Hard Rock would probably be too expensive for crew members. When we were based out of Miami in the winter (Summer was in the Mediterranean), Hard Rock at Biscayne was our local hang out and many passengers would go there before boarding the ships. I visited over 90 countries throughout the world whilst working on the ships and it was a trend to see passengers frequenting places like this. However, Hard Rock has lost its global appeal that it had in the 90's so it will be interesting to see how it will get on in Puerto Plata but having it close to Taino Bay just makes sense. If they place it in Playa Dorada they will miss the majority of the walk in trade and we are talking about 1000's of people walking around the center of Puerto Plata every day. But, and this is a big but, Hard Rock stays open until late and this is something that may sway the decision to put it in Playa Dorada as they will not see any benefit of the night trade from the cruise ship passengers as they will all be gone. However, there is less chance of a cruise ship passenger taking a taxi to Playa Dorada than there is of an AI guest in Playa Dorada taking a taxi to the town center during the day or night for a night out with friends and family.
They don't have enough money now to build another theme park. Heck they may have to close Disneyland.
They are in talks with Netflix to partner up because they lost so many subscribers to their tyranny kids shows - then they raised prices which caused many more to say not gonna do it
Disney seems to be doing OK. https://www.npr.org/2023/11/08/1211522267/four-takeaways-from-disneys-earnings-call
No idea on Hard Rock Cafe's especially in Puerto Plata.
You make some good points on the potential for the Cafe to be situated near the cruise ship terminal. What you’re not factoring in is the potential impact of another pandemic on the cruise ship industry. It’s always out there looming on the horizon and it’s not necessarily Covid. The latest potential pandemic is the RSV outbreak in major Chinese cities. I'm sure business investors have the impacts of the past pandemic fresh in their minds and they factor it into their decisions.
AI resort business in the DR declined during Covid but it was nothing compared to the decline in the cruise ship industry. The DR common sense approach to the Covid pandemic kept their all important AI resorts on the North Coast chugging along with tourists and a boost from locals. A sudden extended loss of clientele at the cruise ship port for any reason at Taino Bay would be devastating to any businesses at the port.
The Playa Dorada and Playa Bergantin areas are close to Puerta Plata and there are many inexpensive transportation options for cruise ship passengers and Puerto Plata citizens to get to them. Playa Dorada offers more security ( perceived or real ) for cruise ship passengers and tourists reticent about venturing into Puerto Plata. Those who believe the crime and violence warnings issued by the foreign embassies and amplified by the media.
Windy, can you remember if there was a Hard Rock Cafe in Puerto Plata in the 90’s? My travels to the DR North Coast started in the 90’s and I can’t recall any. The picture of the tee shirt posted may be a DR pirated copy of a generic Hard Rock Cafe tee shirt.
Maybe the new upscale mall being constructed in Playa Dorada next to the revamped supposedly high end Puerto Plata Village resort? The old PD mall is looking tired and has a lot of vacant space. Businesses there come and go frequently like politicians promises.
I did not first arrive in the DR until 2001 and then full time since 2003. So that predates my time here.
I don't know why, but it bothers me that I had been here 30 years already when you came here.
Were you the first gringo in Cabarete?
I had heard the Canadians were the first to "discover Cabarete" for its windsurfing, but you would certainly predate the first windsurfer.
As I was growing up in the States we were taught in school the Canadians discovered windsurfing and poutine. Then they hired Justin.
2 out of 3 of these events occurred because of massive alcoholism outbreak
Yes. I frequented that bar when I got tired of the resort bars. It’s still on the go as far as I know. It changed owners a few times. I think a German guy owns it now. A poor copy of a Hard Rock Cafe.
Let's see.... With the Crab Bridge threat almost expiring do to opening the bridge soon this one could be the new one people can stay entertained....
Where? Sosua
19°45'49.0"N 70°30'59.9"W
maps.app.goo.gl
When it will open? No se!
BTW.... Don't shoot the messenger!