We all know about Hooters restaurants but there are some facts that may surprise you.
For example, did you know Hooters once had an airline?
Did you also know mothers eat free on Mothers day at Hooters?
Here are 15 facts you never knew about Hooters Restaurants.
About Hooters
1. Hooters Was Incorporated as an April Fools Day Joke
Six Florida businessmen with absolutely no business experience, got together to build a restaurant that they could not get kicked out of. Hooters was incorporated on April 1st, 1983.
2. “Hooters” was named after a Saturday Night Live joke from Steve Martin.
3. Hooters Grave Yard
The first Hooters Restaurant was built in an old run-down nightclub. So many businesses had failed at this particular location, that the owners had actually built a small graveyard outside the restaurant to symbolize all the failed businesses that had been there in the past.
4. The First Hooters Girl Was Hired on a Bet
The first Hooters Girl, Lynne Austin, was hired on a bet.
One of the original founders made a bet that he could get the winner of a bikini contest to be the first Hooters girl.
Initially, she said no, but quit her telephone operator job when her boss told her she could not get time off to participate in another bikini contest.
5. Jogging shorts were inspired by a Secretary
One of the original 6 founders, Ed’s, had a beautiful secretary, Loretta, an avid jogger. She was spotted several times in shorts. This is the reason the Hooters Girls wear jogging shorts today!
6. Hooters Had an Airline
That’s right, Hooters actually had an airline!
Hooters Air marked its inaugural flight on March 6, 2003.
The airline ceased operations due to rising gas prices and insurance costs.
7. Famous Hooter Employees Include:
Holly Madison is best known for dating Hugh Heffner, as well as for her reality show, but before that, she was a Hooters Girl.
Before he coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the 2003 Superbowl, Jon Gruden was actually a Hooters Cook.
8. Hooters Had a Video Game
Hooters had a video game for PCs and the Sony PlayStation. The game was called “Hooters Road Trip”.
Unfortunately, the game had very poor ratings and was one of the last games created for the original PlayStation.
9. There Is a Hooters Casino in Las Vegas
In 2006, Hooters opened a casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The hotel under the Hooters name no longer exists and is now an OYO Hotel.
10. Hooters Sponsors a Charity for Cancer Research
Sadly, Hooters Calendar Girl Kelly Jo Dowd died of cancer. Since then Hooters donates to the V Foundation for Cancer Research.
You can donate online, buy a calendar (for every calendar sold $1 goes to the V Foundation), add a donation to your bill, buy a pink bracelet, or buy a pink drink.
11. Hooters Has Frozen Food
That’s right, you can pick up your favorite Chicken Wings and Buffalo Shrimp from your grocery store.
12. Hooters Sponsors NASCAR
Hooters sponsors NASCAR driver Chase Elliot. In 2017, you will see the car twice, once on the Talladega Superspeedway and again at Phoenix International.
13. The Hooters Guy Was Launched in a Public Relations Campaign
After four years of investigating Hooters’ policy of hiring only women to be Hooters Girls, a commission concluded that Hooters was discriminating against men by not hiring them to be Hooters Girls.
In retaliation, the Hooters Guy was born!
14. Hooters Girls Go to Iraq
In May of 2003, Hooters hit the road with the Operation: Let Freedom Wing Tour, hosted by Armed Forces Entertainment, to entertain the troops in the ‘stans; Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Qatar. Weapons of mass distraction!
15. Free Mothers Day Meal
Hooters actually offers mothers a free entrée at participating locations worldwide.
And that’s that. If you have any facts that you would like to add please comment below.