Hooters is opening three restaurants in an unexpected location, and it’s causing a stir among some members of the local community.
The restaurant, known for its scantily clad waitresses, has announced it will open new restaurants in The Villages, a popular destination for Florida retirees.
The company says the move, to what it claims is the world’s largest retirement community, is in response to popular demand, but some local women are less than impressed.
One of those residents, Barbara Procko, wrote to Local newspaper Villages News about the “shoddy” establishment that he fears will lower the tone of the community.
“What body of experts believes that a Hooters establishment is a good fit for an older retirement community?” Procko wrote to the outlet’s editor.
Hooters has announced plans to open three restaurants in the community
The Villages is considered the largest retirement community in the world and has a picturesque main street.
Some female residents of The Villages are not impressed at the prospect of a local Hooters.
‘If I wanted to live among garbage, I would have moved to a place full of garbage,’ he added.
Maddy Courtier, another Villages resident, was inclined to agree.
“We love living here in such a beautiful community. The community is well maintained and has beautiful golf courses,” she wrote in her own letter.
“I think Hooters is a sleazy restaurant. Who would go there?” he asked.
“Golfers, grandparents taking their children and grandchildren? In my opinion, this will not be a good option and will end up closing,” the letter concludes.
Hooters will be betting Courter is wrong, as the transition to the retirement market appears to be a last-ditch effort to revive the chain following a string of recent closures.
In June, it was reported that Hooters had closed 40 restaurants in recent months as it struggles with declining customers and rising costs.
The closures included locations in Florida, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia.
“Like many restaurants under pressure from current market conditions, Hooters has made the difficult decision to close a select number of underperforming stores,” a spokesperson told DailyMail.com at the time.
The openings also mark a return of sorts to Hooter’s home state, having opened its first location in Clearwater, Florida, in 1983.
“There will be three locations in The Villages,” a Hooters spokesperson said in a statement.
“The residents of The Villages have been asking for Hooters and we’re excited to bring them to you,” the spokesperson explained.
“We look forward to growing and expanding in this privileged market over the coming years.”
The first location, set to open in early 2025, will be in Lake Deaton Plaza on Kristine Way.
The Villages may be giving Hooters a hard time, but reports show this retirement community is nothing more than a sleepy, backwater.
The controversial network celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2023
Hooters also calls itself “the original American wings joint.”
The Village’s is considered the largest retirement community in the world.
Hooters hopes plans for The Villages will revive its ailing business
Maia Marie, 23, revealed the shocking amount she makes in just four hours at Hooters
Recent reports suggest that sThe Prawling site is actually a haven of debauchery and drunkenness, including a thriving swingers scene and a black market for Viagra.
Earlier this week, Hooters waitress Maia Marie, 23, revealed she made more than $450 in just a half shift at the chain.
“I ended up walking out of there with $451,” Marie said in a viral TikTok video that was viewed 3.8 million times. So, in a full shift, it would probably be double that.
Tits The closure of the 40 branches earlier this year has left it with According to Techonomic, there are about 300 restaurants worldwide, up from 333 in 2018.
Meanwhile, another so-called “breast restaurant” chain, Bombshells, has suffered a sharp drop in revenue.
Bombshells is a military-themed restaurant chain founded in Texas, where waitresses wear crop tops and bullet belts.
