Hooters revamps its look, aims to be a family restaurant

[jsr]

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-hooters-revamp-family-20130118,0,5540793.story

Hooters revamps its look, aims to be a family restaurant
By Tiffany Hsu

Hooters is remodeling one of its stores in Houston with hopes that the design will serve as a prototype for future locations.

The new look involves “sleek and contemporary finishes” a high ceiling, painted ductwork, bright cypress wood walls and light-colored brick, the company said. There will also be new booth seating and high-back chairs “with an enhanced seat size and added padding.”

The hope, according to Hooters Chief Marketing Officer Dave Henniger, is that customers view the revamped store as “the ideal environment to kick back and relax after work, get together to watch their favorite sports team and enjoy a delicious meal with their family.”

After all, there’s nothing like barely concealed cleavage to perk up dinner with the kids.

[Permanut]

1. Gosh, I'm so naive..

I can't possibly think of anything that "hooters" could be a euphemism for. Must be a reference to cute little owls. Yeah, that's the ticket.

[lpbk2713]

2. Hooters has always been over rated IMO.

But to be honest I've only been to a few, if an opinion of the chain can be based on those few visits.

[backwoodsbob]

4. dont know about that

I rate my wifes hooters pretty high and dont consider them overrated.

[Cali_Democrat]

5. The food is terrible.

[Initech]

22. I agree.

I've only been to Hooters three times but every time - the rest of the day is just like

[immoderate]

32. They have breaded, fried pickle slices.

A horrible thing to do to a pickle. And not an especially good pickle either. And you have to pay for it.

--imm

[Fawke Em]

3. Until the waitresses cover up OR until they hire half-naked men

to balance out the sexism, Hooters will NEVER be a meal destination restaurant on my family's map.

[Jennicut]

11. I have 7 and 8 year olds.

I am all for women or men working where they want but bringing them anywhere where there are half naked people working there just is not in the cards for me. Half naked men taking my order would be fine if it was just me, but with my kids...no. Just no.

[seabeyond]

13. i think fawke em probably agrees.

i too went to that extreme.

any restaurant where the theme is sexualizing the help isnt going to cut it for most of us parents.

[petronius]

6. Are they changing the uniforms? Because none of these modifications will change

a thing so long as their core image remains the same. If they're hurting, it's not because families are avoiding them, it's because they're being out-competed by all the other entrants in the 'sleazy sports bar' category. Better fries, more beers on tap, longer happy hour, and bigger burgers is where they need to be going, not some bizarre notion that a high ceiling is going to convince families to bring in the kids for an evening of game-watching and waitress-ogling...

[whistler162]

7. Name change to Owl Brothers!

[zappaman]

9. The staff are nice.

but the food is beyond terrible.

[seabeyond]

10. when there is a restaurant named cocks, men wear short shorts showing off package, moms/wives/daught

sit around the table as a family talking about the waiters size....

is the day my hubby, sons and i go into hooters.

[Gormy Cuss]

15. Liar.

You wouldn't go to "Cocks" because it'd be just as sexist as Hooters.

[seabeyond]

16. damn... you keep me in line.

i acknowledge that in a post to jenn.

true that.

[sweetloukillbot]

31. I prefer Peckers...

They could have a large-beaked woodpecker for the mascot...

[seabeyond]

36. they do have a dicks. but, it is not about sexualizing the man. it is about sticking a dick

on the customers head to ridicule the customer, not the man.

that

says it all.

[peacebird]

38. Now THAT is funny!!

[kestrel91316]

12. Lipstick on a pig.

[seabeyond]

14. perfect. nt

[name not needed]

17. Chris Rock had it right: Nobody goes to Hooters for wings

[seabeyond]

19. and it isnt a place for boobs either. it is a place for sexist asses to have free reign

it is not about the women. it is not about the food. it is ALL about allowing men to treat women as a thing. that is the attraction. not only is it welcomed, it is encouraged. and the women will smile for the men, as if they love it.

[closeupready]

21. Yes. It seems to say to one's children that females are clowns,

essentially, who exist only to entertain.

[MadrasT]

18. *snort*

As if.

Idiots.

[closeupready]

20. There is just a huge disconnect between how people raise their children

and how they turn out - disconnect in terms of frequently, I find people who don't 'parent' well can't figure out why their children didn't do much with their lives/abused substances/etc. Obviously, there are hundreds of reasons why people end up doing what they do.

I won't venture to guess what percentage, but someone who thinks taking their children to Hooters is a good idea are likely the same people who think there is nothing wrong with taking your 12 or 13 year old boy to a bordello to lose his virginity, or even worse.

[NewJeffCT]

23. I remember Hooters in Florida having a lot more families in it

than when I went to Hooters a few times here in Connecticut. The times I went in CT, it was mostly guys there - though, I do remember my ex-wife dragging me there once after the CT one first opened. (okay, she didn't really drag me there, but it was her idea to go...) However, the times I went in Florida back in the 90s, Hooters did have a good amount of families in it.

[BuelahWitch]

24. One of the comments:

"A boobs in your face family restaurant. What a place to take the family after church on Sunday."

[Flashmann]

25. a delicious meal

AHHHhh.....I see there will be a menu change......Good to know......

[Turbineguy]

26. Family restaurant?

yes, they seem to hire waitresses that many men would love to make families with.

[leveymg]

27. Family restaurant? What, are they offering a new breast feeding menu?

Hooters now gives Mom a chance to kick back and take a break, too. Let someone else do the food preparation and serving for the youngsters.

[JoePhilly]

28. Their cheese steaks SUCK!!!

During a golf week-end, me and some friends decided to get a late lunch there after playing 18.

I'll try the cheese steak and any restaurant once. Almost never find a good one, but don't live in Philly now so I'm always hopeful.

The cheese steak at Hooters was terrible ... and no amount of jiggling mamarries was going to fix it.

That's the only time I've even been in one. Never going back.

[exboyfil]

29. I have never been in a Hooters

even on business.

[Ilsa]

30. Years ago two Hooters waitresses

I spoke with were fairly superficial, caring about nothing but getting enough tips saved up for a good boob job so they could move on to work at strip clubs. No interest in higher education or learning a skill they could use after the boobs were at waist level. They were a sad pair, definitely not an inspiration.

[Ikonoklast]

33. They will be done inside of three years.

Bank on it, Hooters is in a death spiral and has been for some time now.

[bluestateguy]

34. Oh I see families there all the time

Usually fathers and uncles with teenaged sons and nephews.

[Eleanors38]

35. Oh? They are going to allow public breast-feeding? How out-front they are.

[rrneck]

37. It might help if the food was fit to eat. nt