A HOOTERS chief has insisted he’s complained about servers’ skimpy outfits for years as the chain makes family-friendly changes.
The admission comes as the busty eatery tries to clean up its image and overhaul a brand known for its servers’ shorts and chicken wings.
Hooters of America, based in Atlanta, Georgia, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 31, aiming to restructure under a founder-led buyout plan.
A company that operates approximately 300 restaurants has been dealing with a decline in customer visits and increasing debt, leading to the closure of several establishments.
Neil Kiefer, the CEO of Hooters Inc., the creator of the Hooters brand in 1983, has been expressing concerns about the chain’s overly sexualized image of its servers for a long time.
“For over two years, we’ve been complaining,” Kiefer told Fox News.
Kiefer slammed the now-infamous orange shorts, saying they strayed far from the brand’s original athletic aesthetic.
“At some point, they shifted towards more revealing attire, which, in our opinion, does not align with the image of a family-friendly restaurant that many families opt to visit,” he explained.
“You don’t want to have a butt cheek in your plate.”
He added, “They’re supposed to be athletic, not so much sexual.”
Kiefer’s chain, Hooters Inc., operates 22 locations in Florida and Illinois, with two more locations planned for this year.
His franchise, along with another buyer, controls more than 30% of all US Hooters spots, including nearly half of the top-earning stores.
As part of the brand’s shake-up, weekly bikini nights are being axed and Hooters is planning to bring back original sauces, standardize its menu, and create uniform guidelines for staff.
“You don’t want to walk in after a little league game with your team and have a bikini contest in the store,” Kiefer said.
The goal now is to appeal to families, seniors, students, and kids – not just the chain’s original male-dominated base.
Chris Torelli, who runs the Boca Raton location in Florida, said the bankruptcy caused concern among regulars.
Changes at Hooters
- Bikini nights axed as part of rebrand
- Shift toward a family-focused, cleaner image
- Introduction of fresher ingredients in kitchens
- Staff training for faster, sharper service
- 40 locations shut down in 2024 amid financial struggles
- Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings underway
- Past issues include outdated menu and failed expansions
Torelli insisted most franchises are still strong and that the revamp is key to long-term survival.
“It gave us the opportunity to explain that we’re healthy,” he said.
BANKRUPT HOOTERS
Hooters has filed for bankruptcy after piling up more than $370 million in debt, with plans now in motion to sell off 151 of its restaurants.
The locations are being handed over to a group made up of two franchisees as part of a sweeping restructuring deal.
Sources close to the process say the chain could emerge from bankruptcy within three to four months.
Despite the financial turmoil, Hooters executives insist the restaurants aren’t going anywhere.
“Today’s announcement marks an important milestone in our efforts to reinforce Hooters’ financial foundation and continue delivering the guest-obsessed hospitality experience and delicious food our customers and communities have come to expect,” Sal Melilli, CEO of Hooters of America, said in a statement.
REVAMP UNDER PRESSURE
Hooters’ notorious bikini nights are being axed as the chain scrambles to avoid financial collapse and push a cleaner, family-focused image.
“I’m calling it re-Hooterization,” Kiefer told Bloomberg.
The so-called “breastaurant” is now mid-overhaul.
Fresh ingredients are being introduced in the kitchen, and staff are being trained to offer faster, sharper service.
But behind the image refresh is real financial strain.
The chain which once boasted around 300 sites — is now in Chapter 11 proceedings, a move that could see even more closures.
Forty locations shut down last year alone.
The pandemic, a dated menu, failed expansion bets, and customer backlash to “creepy” experiences all contributed to the decline, as reported by Eat This, Not That.
HOOTERS ROW
But the backlash over the chain’s uniform isn’t new.
In 2021, Hooters staff across the country ripped into a new dress code requiring them to wear barely-there shorts dubbed “crotch strings.”
The updated dress code forced all “Hooters Girls” to wear the skimpier shorts or resign sparking an outcry.
Each worker was issued three pairs but the shift proved so controversial, Hooters backtracked and allowed staff to choose between the old and new styles.
Despite the move toward a cleaner image, some traditions will remain, including the famous swimsuit calendar.
Miss Hooters International Pageant hasn’t been confirmed yet.
Alli Lamb, a Boca Raton waitress who appears on this year’s swimsuit calendar, said she’s never had an issue with her outfit.
“Everything’s covered. Nothing’s out that doesn’t need to be out,” she said.
Hooters didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
