Unofficial GTA-themed pop-up restaurant shut down by Take-Two Interactive

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Cluckin' Bell and Burger Shot will no longer be open for San Diego Comic Con

GTA Cluckin' Bell
(Image credit: Rockstar)

The organizer of an unofficial GTA-themed restaurant has received a cease and desist letter from Rockstar's parent company Take-Two Interactive.

As reported by GTA fansite Rockstar Intel, US food company Smokin' J's BBQ has had to change its plans for a second GTA-themed event at San Diego Comic-Con this year. During last year's event, the organizer opened its very own Cluckin' Bell (a fast food restaurant found in multiple GTA games) and this year planned to take things even further by also opening a Burger Shot restaurant. That is, until Take-Two got wind of it. 

According to a statement provided to the outlet above from the organizer, Smokin' J's BBQ has "been forced" to scrap the Burger Shot event after receiving "a cease and desist letter from the law firm representing Take-Two Interactive." All is not lost though, as the team is "still doing a Cluckin' Bell type installation next weekend, however, it is now going to be a spoof installation branded as 'Don't Cluckin' Tell'" - so a spoof of a spoof restaurant? 

If you didn't see the event from last year, it was essentially just a way of Smokin' J's BBQ attracting the Comic-Con crowds as it dressed its restaurant up with GTA details. Everything from temporary signs, a themed menu (that includes Sprunk), and even a poster of the GTA 5 protagonist Trevor Philips beside a 'Do Not Serve' warning. Since it seems Rockstar/Take-Two never gave its permission for the use of its license, the real-life Cluckin' Bell was just a one-time thing. 

Despite now needing to be re-branded, the original plan for the real-life Burger Shot (another fictional eatery in the GTA universe) featured more GTA-themed items on the menu, including eCola and Orang-O-Tang. Alongside all of this, Smokin' J's BBQ also planned to offer limited edition toy cars, yoga mats, and uniforms to customers. There's definitely a GTA fan amongst the Smokin' J's BBQ staff.

Prior to receiving the cease and desist, the restaurant's co-owner said: "We’re looking forward to welcoming all GTA-lovers, Comic-Con visitors, and local San Diegoians at these events to enjoy delicious food, drinks, and a truly unique video game-inspired experience." We'll have to wait and see what Smokin' J's BBQ comes up with instead of Cluckin' Bell and Burger Shot later this week when San Diego Comic-Con officially kicks off. 

Take a look at our games like GTA list to find something to keep you busy until GTA 6 eventually releases.

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Hope Bellingham
Hope Bellingham
News Writer

After studying Film Studies and Creative Writing at university, I was lucky enough to land a job as an intern at Player Two PR where I helped to release a number of indie titles. I then got even luckier when I became a Trainee News Writer at GamesRadar+ before being promoted to a fully-fledged News Writer after a year and a half of training.  My expertise lies in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, cozy indies, and The Last of Us, but especially in the Kingdom Hearts series. I'm also known to write about the odd Korean drama for the Entertainment team every now and then.  

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