Karnea Highlights

Led by Yoko Ono, checked coat, and Little Richard, center right, the ribbon is cut opening the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland Friday, Sept. 1, 1995. MARK DUNCAN/AP | c/o Rolling Stone Magazine, Dec. 21, 2020

About The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

In 1985, when the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation was deciding where to open its physical museum, Cleveland threw its hat into the ring for consideration. Thanks to a groundswell of public support and a $65 million commitment from city officials, the Foundation chose Cleveland as the winning site, over locales such as New York, San Francisco, Memphis and Chicago. Needless to say, the Rock Hall's construction was cooler than most. On June 7, 1993, the Who's Pete Townshend, Chuck Berry, Billy Joel, Sam Phillips, and Ruth Brown (to name a few) attended the Cleveland groundbreaking ceremony, while Jerry Lee Lewis performed a year later when the building was finished off with the placement of one last steel beam.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame threw open its doors on September 2, 1995, and celebrated with a blockbuster benefit concert at nearby Cleveland Municipal Stadium. This marathon show featured once-in-a-lifetime pairings and performances by greats such as James Brown, Bob Dylan, Jerry Lee Lewis, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash and Booker T. and the M.G.s. Besides the Municipal Stadium concert, the Rock Hall's festive opening weekend featured a downtown Cleveland parade and a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Little Richard and Yoko Ono.

For more information about the Rock Hall, click here.

To learn more about current Rock Hall exhibits, click here.

Jeff Sinelli

Jeff Sinelli (Michigan State, 1990) Founder, Chief Vibe Officer, and Superpreneur, Sinneli Concepts International, Inc.

Jeff Sinelli serves as Founder, CEO, Chief Vibe Officer of Sinelli Concepts, and its subsidiary brands. He often says, "Anything is Possible." That includes creating iconic brands, including Which Wich? Superior Sandwiches, Genghis Grill, Paciugo Gelato, and Caffé; Birdguesa; Earth Burger, VibeFlow; and Supernova Coffee...Aggregately, these concepts have grown both domestically and internationally. 

Sinelli grew up in Detroit, and after achieving a BA at Michigan State and an MBA from City University, Sinelli headed west to exercise his entrepreneurial spirit in Dallas. In the mid '90s, he developed several independent restaurants and nightclubs before focusing on building multiunit concepts. Sinelli's concepts are among the few to have been awarded the prestigious Hot Concept! Award by Nations Restaurant News multiple times. 

Sinelli created Which Wich in 2003, prompting QSR Magazine to refer to him as a "branding phenom" upon its launch. Which Wich was a huge hit from the moment it opened its doors. due to the demand for franchise opportunities, the company began awarding franchise rights in 2005. By 2018, Which Wich had expanded to nearly 500 locations throughout the United States and opened in seven international countries, with more than 100 locations in development. 

Gourmet named Sinelli one of The Top 25 American Food Entrepreneurs, an honor he shares with Howard Schultz, Martha Stewart, and Emeril Lagasse, among other household names. The publication also referred to Which Wich as "the funniest lunch in the land."

In October 2013, Which Wich launched Project PB&J, a charitable endeavor that donates PB&J sandwiches to people in need. The project's goal is to "spread the love," one PB&J at a time. 

In his spare time, Sinelli enjoys spending time with his wife, Courtney, his daughters, Story and Sky, and his Labradors, Moonlight and Midnight. His hobbies include tennis, golf, lacrosse (he played for the Detroit Turbos in 1990-1992), travel, and conscious capitalism activities. 

Jeff Sinelli (Michigan State, 1990).