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[Dalek]

Hooters Opens First Fast-Casual Hoots in Chicago Suburbs — Without the Orange Shorts

Quietly, without tight tank tops or orange shorts in Chicago's suburbs, Hooters has opened up the first of what could be a new chain of fast-casual restaurants. Hoots, which offers counter service and a full bar, is now open in Cicero. The spin-off serves fewer items than the original Hooters, but the menu still centers on the chain's familiar breaded chicken wings.

The food comes in containers that fast-food aficionados would be familiar with, as Hoots is positioning itself to handle massive to-go orders to fill man caves and basements with Buffalo shrimp and buckets of wings for sports-watching and other domestic activities. Domestic draft beer, as well as sangria and margaritas, are also available.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-hooters-hoots-cicero-open-0215-biz-20170214-story.html

Hooters' parent company is trying to take advantage of the fastest-growing part of the restaurant industry, called "fast casual," which includes chains like Chipotle and Panera. But opening a new concept is a big risk at a time when growth is stagnant in the restaurant industry as a whole.

Hooters Chief Operations Officer Sal Melilli said Cicero was chosen for the first Hoots because of the strong carry-out business in the Chicago area. Takeout orders can amount to 20 percent of sales or more in some restaurants, Melilli said.

The Hoots menu is composed exclusively of Hooters' best-selling carry-out items, so while it includes the signature wings and chicken sandwiches, there's no burger. Snow crab legs, served by the pound with a side of butter, are there instead. Fried pickles, onion rings and tots are offered on the starters menu, with options like celery and sauces for an extra charge.

The conservative uniform choice was made to be in-line with other fast-casual restaurants, Melilli said.

"In the full-service Hooters, we have the same iconic Hooters girl outfit that we've had for 34 years now," he said. "On this side, because it was limited, it was fast, it was take-away and has servers just like the traditional fast-casual model, the Hoots shirts fit that profile," he said.

 

[Lightning_Roller]

Sounds like a hoot.

.........

I'll be on my way, then.

 

[Ran rp]

hoots

ohmygod

 

[outunderthestars]

Doesn't seem like a terrible idea for those who actually like their food.

Personally I'd rather get kicked in the dick than eat their wings...

 

[Ambient80]

Daytona Style wings pls

 

[kunonabi]

Sounds like a waste since hooter's never had good food to begin with. Rather just go to twin peaks.

 

[Linkura]

No one goes to Hooters for the food. No one.

 

[Mr.Mike]

Why associate your brand with Hooters if you're not going for the Hooters demo?

 

[jediyoshi]

I wonder what the Twin Peaks equivalent would be

 

[HStallion]

This isn't how you do it Hooters. You need to go more extreme and just open up a Hooters strip club.

 

[mcfrank]

I wonder what the Twin Peaks equivalent would be

Tweaks

 

[rainy_day]

Love me some lots of tots and hot wings. I just wish they had comfy seats. I could care less about who brings the food.

 

[Chie Satonaka]

Why associate your brand with Hooters if you're not going for the Hooters demo?

I mean, honestly. Are people just SO into Hooters food that they'd be willing to go for this?

 

[Sanjuro]

oh what the fuck is the point ? ? ?

 

[Jarrod38]

In the end you're eating frozen chicken wings.

 

[sphagnum]

Boringly serviceable and refined.

 

[Moppeh]

wut

 

[uncredited male]

Wait, they have food at Hooters?

 

[see5harp]

That sorta gets rid of any reason anybody would ever go there. Their food is so gross.

 

[Grizzlyjin]

This isn't a terrible idea. Smaller menu would decrease wait time, and these rebranded locations will probably do better with female customers. Items like the fried pickles have a high profit margin too.

 

[HaloSon]

I like hooters wings but this will fail within 6 months.

 

[jwk94]

Doesn't seem like a terrible idea for those who actually like their food.

Personally I'd rather get kicked in the dick than eat their wings...

But the food there sucks.

 

[Reverend Funk]

This is great now I can enjoy the fantastic hooters food without having to wear a blindfold

 

[Gordon Shumway]

trumps America..

 

[Sanjuro]

This isn't a terrible idea. Smaller menu would decrease wait time, and these rebranded locations will probably do better with female customers. Items like the fried pickles have a high profit margin too.

Women go to Hooters to see tits though.

I mean...the funny thing is the entire idea of this is still sexist.

 

[LizardKing]

I used to really legitimately love the hooters wings about 7-10 years ago. More than BWW for sure. Then I moved and tried them again after a few years and they were disgusting. So I dunno if they changed, or I changed or it was different in the different locations but that happened.

 

[SRG01]

I mean, honestly. Are people just SO into Hooters food that they'd be willing to go for this?

They had pretty decent wings when I was in undergrad. Then again, this was also when my city had close to zero decent bars for wings and beer.

 

[Reptars Revenge]

So we found out people don't read playboy for the articles.

Do people really go to hooters for the wings?

 

[Sanjuro]

So we found out people don't read playboy for the articles.

Do people really go to hooters for the wings?

I was going to use this comparison, but yes on the latter.

 

[ThisGuy]

They seriously believe their food is what brings people?

Lmao, we'll see.

 

[Beartruck]

Yay, now i can try their supposedly famous wings without feeling like a pig.

 

[HoodWinked]

those tables for a flag ship store is pretty terrible.

 

[Nester99]

15 years ago a roommate i had loved hooters for whatever reason. I found the wings to be fantastic. fast forward. Wife refuses to go for obvious reasons no matter how much i talk about the food.

I might just get me some wings afterall!

 

[Count Dookkake]

So is this for subpar talent?

 

[Brakke]

That "A Hooter's Joint" sign is good and hilarious.

 

[LizardKing]

Even though I used to legit like their food, I also never understood why people would go to hooters for the girls either. Just go to the strip club or something. I mean it's nice to look at cute girls if you already like the food, but if all you want is the girls there are much better options.

 

[Sanjuro]

Even though I used to legit like their food, I also never understood why people would go to hooters for the girls either. Just go to the strip club or something. I mean it's nice to look at cute girls if you already like the food, but if all you want is the girls there are much better options.

It's harder to bring your family to the strip club.