We were catching an American Football match at the Field House yesterday and noticed something shiny and new next door. As you may or may not be aware, the Market Street entrance to the Convention Center not only contains an entrance to the Field House, a Dunkin Donuts, and a PNC Bank, but it also contains a brand new addition to the Hard Rock Cafe.

Big Gibson

It seems that after fourteen years, this cheesy chain location was in need of an upgrade. With that in mind, the restaurant has built “The Philadelphia Room,” an extension of the restaurant and an event space, in an area that used to be superfluous Convention Center lobby space (at least as far as we can recall). With the recent completion of the new space, the original restaurant has been gutted, and will be renovated in the coming months. We chatted with the hostess, who indicated that the renovation should be finished by Thanksgiving weekend, just in time for the 2012 Irish Step Dance Competition.

The new Philadelphia Room

Photo of the rendering of the new main restaurant space

We confess, we’re a little surprised that the Hard Rock Cafe gets the kind of business that would justify what must be a very costly renovation and expansion, but hey, conventioneers gotta eat somewhere, right? If only there were some kind of huge and historic marketplace somewhere nearby, offering dozens of food options at reasonable prices.

Ah, who are we kidding? That would never work.