To separate rumor from fact, we've put together all there is to know about the iconic franchise. Watch to find out the untold truth of Hooters.
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00:00Since first opening in 1983, Hooters has become a cultural icon.
00:04You might think you know all there is to know about the franchise, but there's a lot more
00:08to it than just Hooters girls and chicken wings.
00:10Let's dive in and find out the truth about Hooters.
00:13Hooters at home
00:14Hooters knows the revealing uniforms of their waitresses don't appeal to everyone.
00:18According to the New York Post, Hooters chief executive Terry Marks said,
00:21"...many people wouldn't step foot in our restaurants, but they want our product."
00:24In order to broaden their client base, the franchise announced it was expanding its delivery
00:28and pickup services in January 2018.
00:31Hooters stars
00:32The restaurant has been a launching pad for many now-famous celebrities who worked there
00:36before they got their big break.
00:37Former Hooters girls include actress Naya Rivera and model Samantha Burke.
00:41Actress Amy Adams also worked at Hooters, first as a hostess when she was 17 and later
00:45as a waitress.
00:46Adams told Vanity Fair that she only made it three weeks as a waitress, claiming that
00:49she, quote, "...learned quickly that short shorts and beer don't mix."
00:52She added,
00:53"...the nicest guy walking in is not necessarily the nicest guy after two pitchers of beer."
00:58Exempt from the law
00:59A class-action lawsuit was brought against Hooters in the 90s alleging discrimination
01:03in their hiring policies.
01:05The lawsuit was filed by several men who had been denied jobs by the company.
01:08While Hooters paid out a total settlement of $3.75 million and agreed to open up more
01:12jobs to any gender, they were not ordered to hire men as wait staff.
01:16As Business Insider explained, while gender-based hiring is generally not allowed under the
01:20law, Hooters claim that hiring women as Hooters girls is a necessary aspect of their business
01:24model.
01:25In a statement, Hooters said,
01:26"...while we offer world-famous wings and burgers, the essence of our business is the
01:29Hooters girl and the experience she provides to our customers.
01:32Hooters girls are entertainers."
01:34Most popular attraction
01:36While many people might go to Hooters for the pretty women, some clients claim to be
01:40drawn in by the food, especially their chicken wings.
01:43While co-founder Ed Droste admitted that Hooters wasn't the first to serve the chicken wing,
01:47he noted they did help to popularize them.
01:50Back then, wings were a throwaway — no one served them anywhere.
01:53Since the restaurant opened in 1983, chicken wings have become a staple in bars everywhere
01:57and still count for a large portion of Hooters sales.
02:00Inexperienced founders
02:02The Hooters founders basically had no idea what they were doing when they opened the
02:05restaurant, as none of them had been in the restaurant business before.
02:08Droste told USA Today,
02:10"...we were six clueless knuckleheads who called ourselves the Hooters Six.
02:13We wanted to open a neighborhood joint with a beach theme, that we couldn't get kicked
02:16out of."
02:17Droste said that on opening day, he had to call a friend to show the crew how to light
02:20the fryers.
02:21They also broke the law that day.
02:22He revealed,
02:23"...I paid two fake cops to bust one of my partners because we didn't even have our beer
02:26license yet."
02:28Tuition assistance
02:29Hooters offers excellent benefits to their employees, including help with paying for
02:33school.
02:34Courtney Dietz, who worked for Hooters for several years, told Cosmopolitan about her
02:37experience working at the restaurant, saying,
02:39"'Hooters helps pay for books and schooling, so it's really awesome.
02:42You have to work up to it.
02:43If you're there for a year or two, they offer scholarships, too.
02:46My managers would let me do homework in the office as long as I was taking care of my
02:49tables.'"
02:50Times are changing
02:51Hooters' business model has proven to be successful for more than three decades, but nothing lasts
02:55forever.
02:56Lately, they've had trouble gaining a following among the millennial generation.
03:00Millennials are less likely to frequent casual dining chains than people of their parents'
03:03generation.
03:04Business Insider claims millennials are also, quote, "'less interested in breasts' than
03:07their elders."
03:08For these reasons, Hooters has started to rethink their brand.
03:10The franchise is working on expanding their menu and updating their decor to appeal to
03:14the younger demographic.
03:15For more stories, visit nyseagrant.org