RIDGEFIELD, Wash. (April 24, 2024) ilani celebrated the grand opening of Rock & Brews Restaurant and Concert Bar and its 7th anniversary on Tuesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony. A free performance featuring Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and Rock & Brews co-founder, Gene Simmons, followed the celebration at 8 p.m.
The opening is part of ilani’s ongoing commitment to bring best-in-class hospitality to its guests and the surrounding community. The festivities began with a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon, featuring remarks from Gene Simmons, ilani President and General Manager Kara Fox-LaRose, Cowlitz Indian Tribe Chairwoman Patty Kinswa-Gaiser, and Adam Goldberg, CEO and partner at Rock & Brews.
“As we open the doors to Rock & Brews, we invite you to join us in celebrating not just a meal, but an experience—a celebration of great food and rock ‘n’ roll music,” said Fox–LaRose. “This is a one-of-a-kind experience, offering amazing food, supporting our local craft breweries and entertainers, and providing memorable experiences for our guests as we continue to celebrate our community and our region.”
“Today, we celebrate the positive impact Rock & Brews will have for Southwest Washington and The Cowlitz Indian Tribe,” said Kinswa-Gaiser. “This new venture not only signifies progress and prosperity for our Tribe but also brings many growth opportunities for our community.
“We look forward to welcoming guests to indulge in our menu, handcrafted food with the locally-sourced ingredients, craft rocktails, an unrivaled selection of 24 local and craft beers on tap — and a heaping helping of rock ‘n’ roll,” said Goldberg. “Here’s to an exciting partnership and many memorable experiences ahead.”
Announced earlier this year, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe’s partnership with Rock & Brews puts the rock-inspired concept center stage at ilani, enabling the expansion of live music and events, and accompanied by a great new dining option. Also, with a further nod to Rock & Brews’ KISS-inspired roots, the menu will feature Tommy Thayer’s Rock & Soil Willamette Valley Pinot Noir from Pete’s Mountain Vineyard. Thayer was the band’s lead guitarist and vocalist.
“It’s a great feeling that our friends and wine aficionados around the world can finally experience our Rock & Soil Willamette Valley Pinot Noir,” said Thayer. “It’s been a labor of love creating an amazing wine right off our vineyards at Pete’s Mountain.”
With a passion for music at its core, Rock & Brews provides a high-energy atmosphere. The 10,000 square foot space features 15 LED screens and a vast performance stage to host local artists and well-known national acts. The venue will feature two full-service bars, countertop gaming and plenty of room for dancing.
Rock & Brews’ opening week will feature a variety of free shows and entertainment, including:
- Gene Simmons Band on April 23 at 8 p.m.
- Eagle Eyes, a critically acclaimed Eagles tribute band, on April 24 at 8 p.m.
- Rekless Kompany, a dance band featuring country and covers of classic rock hits of the 80s, on April 24 at 10 p.m.
- Dueling Hobbits, dueling pianos, on April 25 at 7 p.m.
- Luisa Marshall, a Tina Turner tribute artist and lookalike, on April 26 at 9 p.m.
- Beat Frequency, sultry, soaring vocals layered against a mid/high energy vintage mix of live and programmed instruments, on April 26 at 11 p.m.
- MiniKISS, a high-energy rock band of talented little people known for their electrifying KISS-inspired performances, on April 27 at 9 p.m.
- The Hellcats, playing danceable rock hits, on April 27 at 11 p.m.
- Bridge City Soul, a soul, dance and funk band for Motown Mondays on April 29 at 7 p.m.
Rock & Brews hours of operation:
- Monday – Thursday: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
- Friday – Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m.
- Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
For restaurant images and event b-roll, click here.