Hooters looking for more women – as customers
(Johnny Crawford, jcrawford@ajc.com)
It may come as no surprise that two-thirds of Hooters’ customers are men, no doubt drawn to the restaurant’s burgers and chicken wings.
And, possibly, the waitresses clad in tight shirts and orange shorts.
The Atlanta-based company with more than 450 locations, however, has embarked on a makeover to draw more women to its tables – as customers, according to a Bloomberg interview with company officials.
Chief Executive Officer Terry Marks recently told Bloomberg the company is including more items on the menu to attract women, like a better selection of fresh salad choices, and installing larger windows and more lights to brighten up the place and its dark-wood walls. More contemporary furnishings are also planned.
Chief Marketing Officer Dave Henninger told Bloomberg, “For those folks who are convinced there’s something to hide inside a Hooters, this new design should disabuse them of that notion.”
Marks, however, says the tight shirts and orange shorts will stay.
“There’s an opportunity to broaden the net without putting wool sweaters on the Hooters girls,” he said.
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84 comments Add your comment
Lindsey
September 13th, 2012
10:15 am
I love hooters now. But if the girls just sported regular T-shirts instead of showing their stomachs and boobs year round a pair of Khakis instead of stockings and orange shorts, I think women would be more interested and actually take them as a family restaurant as they try to call themselves. Peak times could call for original time like weekends, important games maybe, but hooters isn’t awesome year round. And if they made the restaurants less cluttered I would love it even more.
Teacher, Too
September 13th, 2012
10:15 am
I have been going to Hooter’s since high school. It’s a typical beach bar– I love their wings and cold adult bevs. I don’t go often (lots of high calories!), but I always enjoy going with friends, and I’ve always been treated respectfully. The panty hose need to go…they are awful. Reminds me of C.J.’s in Gainesville, Florida. Ditch them.
Lillisue
September 13th, 2012
10:17 am
Put some male waiters in there with tight shorts and no shirts. I would come then. Oh yes, make sure they are buffed!!!!
Shawna Rae
September 13th, 2012
10:17 am
I actually really enjoy going to Hooters with my husband and kids. The ladies there are usually great and will hulahoop with my kids to help keep them entertained. The food could be a little better. I get it’s a “wings” kinda place but maybe add some BBQ, not just salads to the menue.
NeedaChange
September 13th, 2012
10:28 am
Went to Hooters once back in like 2000 and I was not impressed. A few people from work wanted to go there. I was like, what in the world are we doing here? I’m a woman and I didn’t think the food was good or that I belonged there. If they would structure the environment so that cool, sexy, professional men would go there instead pervs, it would naturally attract women. Until they do that, the pervs can have it all to themselves.
daemonova
September 13th, 2012
10:47 am
i think its appalling that we are looking to Tilted Kilt for inspiration. The one place that sales worse food than Hooters and has a darker atmosphere
pa allison
September 13th, 2012
11:36 am
It sickens me that this CEO would spend that kind of money on decor in this economy. Ownership, management, decor, nor food will ever attract a decent female clientele. Scantily clad women belong in male slobberhouse’s – not where you would take a date, friend, or wife. You have set this place up for Men Only – and the new decor will lure in more women – do you really think we are that stupid. Try revamping your whole place to Really include women like waiters in decent clothes and you see a lot more women in your place.
SM
September 13th, 2012
11:45 am
This all boils down to one question: WHY are you going somewhere to eat? If it’s for good food, then stay away from breastaurants… you won’t find good food there. Greasy, fried stuff… sure…. a salad you could make at home, yeah, but not “good” food. If you want to watch sports on TV, drink beer, and enjoy the company of hot, young women you WISH you could sleep with… go to Hooters, TK, or whatever. I’ve been to several different places that feature young women wait staff in less-than-normal clothing. All but one of them were set up as sports bars that serve mediocre food at high prices to help keep you spending time and money there on beer. The one exception was an actual restaurant where you sat in a booth, ate GOOD food, and the staff were young, attractive, fit coed-types that wore clingy, attractive black clothing. They weren’t matching outfits either, every girl wore her own clothes.
If you want to eat good food and look at scantily-clad women, go to the Cheetah and do it right. Otherwise, throw your money away on a $9 burger and fries with a $2.59 glass of soda and dream about the cute waitress jumping in your lap and begging you to go home with her because you gave her a 30% tip!
Hootie
September 13th, 2012
11:51 am
When will it end. First they take over Augusta and now Hooters? Why can’t us men have a place of our own.
Jack
September 13th, 2012
12:05 pm
A good start would be to improve the awful food Hooters serves.
Sara Tonin
September 13th, 2012
12:05 pm
All you “Hooters-Haters” who think they “objectify” women simply to make money are partially correct. They don’t do it out of malice, they do it because it works! I work at Hooters 4 days a week and do quite well when it comes to tips. My “part time job” is even better. It allows me to express myself through dance and I get to choose my own “uniforms.” (which invariably end up on the floor!) And by the way, I make enough to pay the mortgage on my condos in Buckhead AND Panama City, as well as the note on my Porsche and still have some left over. All legal and legit. All taxes paid. How about you ladies? Hmmmm?
just me
September 13th, 2012
12:17 pm
If Hooters could retain a steady crowd of men, they wouldn’t be trying to focus on attracting women. When a strip club is failing, they never say ‘hmmm, what can we do to get women in the door to save us.’ Hooters… face it, you will never get women to save you. Focus on attracting and retaining more men.
For my husband, he only goes to sports bars when he gets the random feeling of wanting to watch a major game outside of his precious man-cave. He needs tasty. affordable bar food and HUGE, HD TVs or projectors. If you can’t offer him these things, you won’t be getting his business either. (He can see big boobs at home)
just me
September 13th, 2012
12:21 pm
@ Sara Tonin
Please don’t think you invented the wheel. Women can get those things by stripping, we can also get those things WITHOUT stripping. You apparently can only attain those things by stripping. Bless your lil heart….
Bud Selig
September 13th, 2012
12:30 pm
Hooters here’s a hint—-modernize by improving the menu and dropping the pantyhose. This is not 1983.
Not Again
September 13th, 2012
12:40 pm
@Renard, Please, I can only work so many hours in a day. How about just sending the Ladies to my house and they can kick back and watch me work, in my spandex shorts. You never know, you might just get a peek at the Golden Temple!!!
Show Me Your TDs
September 13th, 2012
12:40 pm
Objectifying seems to be an individual insecurity!! LOL
blkshepherd
September 13th, 2012
12:57 pm
Sorry but this is INDEED a Sexist country. Suggestion: Open a new place. Call it Jock..for Women Only. Have the men serve in the Jock traps and Tank Tops. No Men allowed Unless you work in the kitchen. That should solve that.
There are some music artists that have For Women Only concerts..(Maxwell, R. Kelly, Teddy Pendergrass, etc were good for throwing those which are pretty successful. Women have the Right to see Skin just as men do. Personally I am not interested in tending either. Don’t care to see half naked people while I am enjoying my meal. Old school here, Put some damn clothes on. If you want to show skin Go to a BAR. . Prefer to see folks in Tux, and Dresses with closed shoes and hair tied back not floating around in my food or drinks.
John Oxendine
September 13th, 2012
1:05 pm
Hooters is a great place to go to pretend to be heterosexual.
blkshepherd
September 13th, 2012
1:07 pm
On second thought I pass altogether..Never been to hooters..always looked trashy to me and never saw the Point. But judging from the comments about the food not being that good. I doubt if I ever go in at all. No thanks.
Not Again
September 13th, 2012
1:08 pm
If they stop wearing pantyhose, then they will have to wear a hair-net for sure!!!
Kate
September 13th, 2012
1:12 pm
I’m a woman who enjoys good food and a good atmosphere, particularly one with good beer and wings. I also have no problem with strippers, legal brothels, Playboy, or porn. I respect the right of any woman to do what she wants with her brain or body. But it will be a cold day in Hell when I spend my hard-earned money in a restaurant whose only draw is women in stupid, skimpy outfits. You want my money? Then have your employees dress like professional, hard-working women… AND men. And improve your menu. Anything else and you’re just wasting money.
Teresa
September 13th, 2012
1:13 pm
I have eaten at Hooters 2 times in the past year and my advice would be to make better food. I told my husband “people sure dont come here for the food , do they?” The last time my cat got a 10 dollar fish and chips dinner.
Michelle
September 13th, 2012
2:33 pm
If you want to attract more women, hire young men with nice, hard bodies and tight shirts as waiters. I guarantee that will have the women (and probably some men) busting down the doors.
sue
September 14th, 2012
12:25 am
put some hot guys in wait on tables,wow,hot sexy guys,i all for it,
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Hookerstastesgoodtome
September 14th, 2012
4:16 pm
I always eat good at Hookers
I like the oysters
September 14th, 2012
9:49 pm
I haven’t been in a couple of years but I use to go for the Steamed Oyster Bucket! You can’t get steamed oysters at a lot of places. And the price was great, like 20 bucks for about 36 oysters that you get to shuck. Never really went for the waitresses, but they were pretty nice to look at too. I mean who doesn’t like to view some beautiful bossoms? They are soft, some of them, and bouncy. Their cheeseburger is the only other thing I have had there and it is great! Juicy and big! So I don’t get the hate for Hooters, it’s not for everybody and I rarely go, but the food I eat when I do go is not awful. I actually go there for the food.
Brad
September 15th, 2012
2:08 am
I can’t believe Hooters is still in business. Their food is nasty. Twin Peaks food is the best!
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[...] Hooters looking for more women – as customers The Atlanta-based company with more than 450 locations, notwithstanding, has embarked on a makeover to plan more women to its tables – as customers, according to a Bloomberg interview with company officials. Chief Executive Officer Terry Marks recently told … Read more on Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
HEY AQUAGIRL Fast Eddie
September 15th, 2012
2:16 pm
What do you look like…prob nasty and insecure like 95% of b*t*hes. I’m 42 and balding. However, I’m rock solid head to toe and still hook up with 25 yr old college girls get a life loser
imagens giras
September 15th, 2012
3:49 pm
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guest
September 16th, 2012
9:29 am
been a regular for 12 years ,yes they need to do more to the menu its been the same those 12 years
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