Rocks & Brews Overland Park
The pieces may seem disparate, but trace the connections between them, and you start to connect the dots that redefine a marketplace:
• Fred Merrill is among an elite few successful real estate developers in the Kansas City region, with a background in higher-end developments featuring specialty retailers.
• Kirk Williams is a Wendy’s franchisee with 21 restaurants in Missouri, Kansas and Okla- homa, working from offices in OP and Topeka.
• Rock & Brews is a new restaurant franchise, backed by two founders of the rock band KISS, with new restaurants in LA, Cabo, Maui, and now Overland Park.
How Rock & Brews inspired an exceptional team of partners and found its way to the Kansas City market is a story of serendipitous timing, entrepreneurial vision and the power of collaboration among complementary players. Together, they have created a unique dining concept. So join us on our tour to Tinseltown and get the inside scoop from rock stars of music and business about a unique franchise and what we can expect at Rock & Brews Overland Park...
When Fred Merrill set out to build Prairiefire, he and his team focused on recruiting first-in-the-market retailers. That they’ve done, aligning with dozens of franchises and specialty boutique stores to create Prairiefire, an outstanding development at 135th and Nall. For years, Merrill and his wife, Candy, have frequented Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles, developing strong relationships with several successful entrepreneurs there, including restaurateur and hotelier Michael Zislis.
The Rock & Brews franchise formed two years ago and built its first restaurant in El Segundo, Calif.—genuinely a rock and roll and craft brew emporium. Merrill recruited the partners of Rock & Brews to consider building at Prairiefire. What has transpired since has resulted in the fusion of art, entertainment and hospitality at Rock & Brews OP.
Enter Kirk Williams. Williams has considered investment in several restaurant ventures, but this one was different. After some encouragement from Merrill and a trip to L.A., a weekend with the partners was all it took. “My last 17 years have been with Wendy’s. I got the call and flew out to L.A. to look at the opportunity,” says Williams, whose benchmark of a great restaurant is the quality and uniqueness of its food. “The patrons and employees were having lots of fun and the product was great. The food was unbelievable and the environment was really cool.
“I think Wendy’s has the highest quality of food among fast-food restaurants, serving fresh, never frozen choice beef,” says Williams. “I think Rock & Brews has exceptional food and the product is different from and much more unique than a sports bar. Guests will really like the atmosphere of the restaurant and the outside patio of Rock & Brews and its classic rock theme. They’ll enjoy the craft beers and be entertained by the great rock and roll videos, but they’ll come back for the great food.”
This isn’t Williams’ first rodeo. “I launched a Cajun restaurant in Topeka and eventually it failed,” he says. “We tried to create our own brand. But I kept an open mind and an eye open for another opportunity.” If a franchise would say, “I’m going to give you a cool southern California restaurant and provide you two rock stars and deeply experienced operators who are pros in the space and we’ll help you develop the concept and train your people,” Williams said, it would more than pique his interest.
That’s exactly what happened, and Williams jumped in with both feet; 90 percent of his energy in recent months has been focused on Rock & Brews. He purchased the franchise rights for Kansas and Oklahoma and the option to develop Missouri and Nebraska. He plans to launch between five and 10 Rock & Brews throughout major markets in the region over the next five years, including a few more locations in the Kansas City area.
Williams strongly believes in the brand, and that belief is already being validated: Even before its official grand opening, Rock & Brews had days with more business at the Overland Park site than the other five restaurants in LA, Cabo and Maui.
Will the Rock & Brews concept work in KC? “We’re learning from and improving the product with every unit,” Williams says. “We’ve been welcomed by the city of Overland Park and we’re already setting business volume records compared to the other sites. Yes, OP will work very well.”
A key to that will be an energized, engaged staff, and Williams has found no shortage of enthusiastic workers. “Employees are very excited to work here and they appear to love it,” he says. “I employee 300 staffers at my Wendy’s locations, and recruiting help is much different. You might say that Rock & Brews is on the other side of the spectrum.”
Williams is obviously bullish on Rock & Brews. “It’s a small, growing brand so far but it’s an exciting franchise that I’m confident will aggressively grow,” he says. “Our two biggest hurdles are convincing folks that Rock & Brews is family-friendly and that the food is unbelievable.”
Partner Dave Furano (left), franchisee Kirk Williams, partner Gene Simmons and southern states franchisee Perry Mann invite you to join them at Rock & Brews.
The Franchise
Gene Simmons of KISS fame epitomizes the Rock & Brews brand. But Simmons’ business instincts and acumen are key drivers of the brand’s success. “I was in the right place at the right time and with the right people,” reports Simmons. “Our talented partners are like a basketball team—we all have a role to play and we play very well together.”
Paul Stanley, a co-founder of KISS, is the minutia guy and a real foodie. Michael Zislis is an incredibly talented restaurateur and hotelier. His chefs have created and continue to inspire the food offerings at R&B—keep an eye out for Zislis around Prairiefire. Brothers Dave and Dell Furano are the merchandizers. The Furanos helped build the brands of KISS, Led Zeppelin, Queen and several other successful rock groups, and they’ve turned their talent to build the Rock & Brews brand.
“The synergies are exceptional,” Williams says. “Any time Gene, Paul and KISS travel through, they’ll be here, as will other partners. And they’ll invite their rock-star friends.”
Is Overland Park the true test for the franchise? “Absolutely the best question,” Williams says. “OP is the true test of whether the brand travels. Our success here will tell us if this brand has a tie to markets and can go across the nation. Kids and people of all ages love this place. It’s very fun for all and I’m convinced it will grow,” Williams says.”
“Look” says Simmons, “we have traction. Rock & Brews Albuquerque opens in August. Right behind it are R&Bs in Arizona, Texas and Florida. Our first airport restaurant is in the Delta terminal of LAX—expect to see Rock & Brews in every major airport in the U.S., perhaps beyond. I’m confident we’ll have 100 or more units open in a few years.”
Gene Simmons on stage at Rock & Brews before residing over his first wedding.
Gene Simmons (Rockstar, Businessman, Patriot)
I’ve had the pleasure to meet and interview many successful people, but Gene Simmons is among the more eccentric characters of all. He was born in Israel and his family immigrated to America when he was 8.
“My mother has been and still is my inspiration,” he says. “She was not sophisticated or educated; however, she always shared her life wisdom with me—wisdom you don’t learn in school. When I arrived in the U.S. I discovered television and thought I came to heaven. And it’s free!” he says. “I could also check out books at the library, for free. What a great country!”
“I started singing as a kid then played guitar in several bands, including Long Island Sound. I switched to playing the bass, as it gave me a better chance of being in a band,” he said. “I was 14 when I started writing songs—I learned from tunes like ‘Hang on Sloopy’ that the chords were similar and I could adapt to create other songs,” he said. “My first concert I went to was at my high school to hear ‘Mountain’ perform. I came a few hours early for sound checks and to observe the wizard behind the curtain that made the show. And... I was hooked.”
“We knew right away—without verbalizing it—that KISS could make it big. It’s like going into the ring and knowing you could knock out your opponent,” said Simmons. “KISS was a band unlike any before us. The costumes and persona we created as superheroes was all Americana. Godzilla suits, wings—we were comic characters and created our own schtick.”
Successful? Indeed: KISS would go on to outsell the Beatles and Elvis Presley combined in concert tickets.
KISS was inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame just last month, and in June the band begins its 40th Anniversary Tour. That’s a long haul from his first concert: “New Year’s Eve '73-’74. “My most memorable concert is the next one today or tomorrow—the past doesn’t count. But, there is one that does stands out above the others. We played in Rio for 210,000 excited fans in ‘82. The crowd was a half mile deep and they used landing lights to illuminate the stage. Considering that a large rock concert might have 50,000 in attendance, the Rio concert was of biblical proportions.”
Respect of Country and the Military
“As a kid I’d stand and salute the American flag each day and recite the Pledge of Allegiance at school, despite my butchered English, and over the years my appreciation of America and its military would grow,” Simmons says. “My mother survived a concentration camp in Nazi Germany and had it not been for the American military, none of my family would be here today.”
Emotion came in the form of tears, impressing me all more about the character of Gene Simmons. “We help the Wounded Warrior Project by donating proceeds from concerts, including a memorable one in Washington, D.C. We added a private concert to our tour on behalf of the men and women of the military, including veterans that reside today at Walter Reed VA,” Simmons says proudly. “Many native-born Americans sometimes forget the privilege it is to live in this great country. May we never forget civility, responsibility and respect for our military.”
Simmons' wife Shannon Tweed welcomes Kirk Williams to the Rock & Brews family.
Football and Family
When asked about his business ventures, he quickly chimes in about one of his most enjoyable experiences. “KISS was invited to play at halftime of the AFL indoor football league championship in Jacksonville. Fans were paying more attention to our band than the game,” smiled Simmons. “L.A. being a starved market for football inspired us to bring a franchise here. And the LA KISS was born.”
How did you and your bride meet? He turned to his wife Shannon, who quickly said they met at the Playboy Mansion. “Shannon immediately changed my life,” said Simmons. “May I speak freely? I was an asshole for many years until Shannon swept me off my feet. I have no regrets. I’m blessed for everything life has given me.”
At this point out came the iPhone and photos. “My daughter Sophie and bride Shannon have their own reality show. I’m so proud of my daughter for establishing Sophie’s Place (child advocacy center). She’ll soon open another Sophie’s Place in Minneapolis, in the heart of the highest sex-trafficking area in the nation. And here’s my son Nick—he’s 6’8” and recently acted in his first role—he played Jesus in a National Geographic film. I suppose that makes him the son of God,” Simmons says wryly.
Have I missed anything? “Gene has a fantastic sense of humor,” says Shannon. He has a good heart and we share the same core values. I can’t make too much fun of him because I simply have too much material. He’s a wonderful man!”
Gene—any parting words?
“We’re alive,” he declares. “Work hard, do good and give back!”