13 Aug 2006
Dubai: Twenty-nine years after the death of Elvis Presley, his memory lives on and is set to assume a gastronomic dimension in Dubai with its first Elvis-themed restaurant.
Waiters dressed like the rock 'n' roll king will serve diners at the 1,500-square-foot Elvisly Yours restaurant planned at the Mall of Arabia in Dubailand.
Elvisly Yours, owned by London-based Sid Shaw and designed by Ray Hole of RH Architects, will form part of a global chain of restaurant of the same name. However, no opening date has been fixed as yet.
"Elvis is the most famous entertainer in the world and from what I have read, Dubai wants the best of everything, and we believe an Elvisly Yours restaurant there fits the bill," Shaw told Gulf News by telephone.
Excited
Shaw has sold Elvis memorabilia for 26 years while Hole has designed what will be the world's largest shopping mall in Dubai.
The restaurant aims to woo Elvis fans in the Middle East as well as millions of tourists passing through the Gulf's busiest hub.
Mohsin Rawal, 32, an Indian graphic designer who rarely misses Elvis-related events in Dubai, was excited by the idea.
"I fell in love with his music and style during my university days in London. I can't wait to visit the place and enjoy some live Elvis tribute performances."
Gulf News 2006. All rights reserved.
