Hooters is hurting

[monitor_ep]

791407-download-free-hooters-wallpaper-2684x1791.jpg
Just read an article about how Hooters is hurting with this new economy. Boyfriend & I have never been to one but my brother goes because there is one within walking distance from his job. During the Covid shutdown where nobody was allowed to go inside to eat it put a hurting on the wait staff. I guess nobody wants to order wings or burgers to get delivered from a restaurant that relies on women in tight short outfits. So I am asking people here who have probably been there.

[Wee67]

WHAT?!? Am I going to lose another of my childhood institutions?! I remember my grandmother taking 7-yr-old me around Hooters for her favorite wings. We'd pound a few Yeunglings, change a few twenties for singles and hit the Booby Trap Bar across the street.

You may have figured out that that's a lie.

As for Hooters, I went to one in Tampa (in Florida for the best experience) and the food was terrible. Maybe I'm too old, but no amount of cleavage or peek-a-boo butt cheeks can make up for bad wings.

[Mikey]

Was never a fan of making ladies adhere to a dress code of hot pants and tight shirts

went to one in Atlantic city back in the day

chili was good, but I felt embarrassed for the waitresses

never went back

[apes3978]

The one that was here in town closed a few years back.

[Bruce Banner]

Visited a few times, mostly for beers, and curly fries once or twice.

[Mikey]

Anybody ever go to Hooters casino in Vegas ?

Was right next to Trop (where I was staying) back in the day

Walked over to Hooters

was so bad and embarrassing

[Nostalgiabuff]

went to one, in Denver I think, many years ago, we don't have any near me so never went again. i liked it though. i figure no one forces women to work there, they know what they are signing up for. we had a place near me that only lasted about a year and a half called Tilted Kilt. same type of dress code for the ladies, except it was a short kilt instead of shorts. food was really good too. they blamed the economy but i suspect there was politics involved because a lot of people had protested the place. again, no one forced people to work there and the uniform is what it is

[Earth 2 Chris]

I don't know if the one in Lexington is still open or not. Went there a couple of times with some coworkers 20 years ago, and one around Detroit while at Motor City Con, also 20 years ago. For pub food, the grub wasn't bad.

I'm kind of surprised they are still in business in the more PC climate we have nowadays. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. It does seem a bit barbaric to have to wait tables while being ogled, and that the dress code actually encourages it. If the gals don't mind, I guess it's okay, but still seems like it's a concept whose time has come and gone.

It seems like a lot of restaurants are thinning or eliminating wait staff. Our nearest Steak N' Shake has eliminated table service and waiters. Kiosks are in the lobby for ordering, and you pick your food up when your number is called.

Chris

[Brown Bear]

The 2021 world we live in is too soft for a Hooters franchise to flourish. Not surprised at all.

[rykerw1701]

When you're business model is based on scantily-clad waitresses bringing food and drinks to the clientle, you're particularly vulnerable during a pandemic. Having said that, the place has been reeling for years. I agree with the comment above, times are much more PC right now, and going to one has more of a creepy vive than fun vive these days. But I've no problem with the concept. No Hooters waitress ever went to work on day 1 and went "What?!? You want me to wear this??" My ex-sister in law was a waitress at one of the restaurants, and she said almost all the customers were good. Reasonable respectful, tipped well. But certainly not all of them. I think the combination of changing sensibilties and mediocre food at best caught up to them. Further, the look of the restaurants, from what I can see in pictures, is the same now as in 1985. They never updated the places or what the waitresses wore. The whole thing feels very dated and very uncool. I can be very dated and uncool right at home, thank you.

[palitoy]

I've always hated the concept. It always felt really basic and classless. Ours went under in a matter of months and I'm glad to see the public vote by not buying.

[sprytel]

Actually, I read an article pre-pandemic about these sorts of places (which are amusingly referred to as "breastaurants") being one of the bright spots of the restaurant industry. The premise was that they provide a unique experience that can't be replicated by a delivery service so they had more sticking power than something like an Applebee's. I found it interesting as it was completely not what I expected.

[Mr.Marion]

I've only been Hooters once or twice. There just isn't one nearby, i think small towns don't want them.

[Mikey]

around these parts the pandemic totally killed Ruby Tuesdays but I think they were shaky even before

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Ruby Tuesday's went out around here too, but they priced themselves out of existence, in my opinion. Way higher than the already high Applebee's, and the food wasn't much better.

Ours was replaced with a First Watch.

Chris