Hooters has cancelled “bikini nights” as the struggling chain has gone “woke” in a bid to become more family friendly after filing for bankruptcy protection.
Staff will reportedly be told to greet female customers first and “bikini nights” - where waitresses serve guests wearing only swimwear - will be axed.
This comes after Hooters filed for Chapter II bankruptcy on Monday in Texas, which will serve to protect the company while chiefs finalise a rescue plan.
Founded in the 1980s, the chain has faced difficulties in recent years, accumulating debt during the pandemic under private equity ownership.
Additionally, Hooters has struggled to adjust to shifting societal attitudes following the MeToo movement.
In the past few years, the chain has faced constant accusations of misogyny for hiring young women and requiring them to wear skimpy outfits.
In 2021, female staff members criticised their employer for shortening the length of their shorts.
Right-wing critics have also blamed what they branded as “woke” ideas promoted by the Biden administration for the chain’s decline.
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The Conservative online publication The Washington Free Beacon claimed last month that Hooter’s struggles “coincided with the Democratic Party’s malicious efforts to shame men for liking boobs and denounce attractive women for embracing ‘body positivity’”.
The company operates approximately 300 restaurants, with half managed by its parent company, Hooters of America, and the remainder run by franchisees, including Hooters Inc, a group led by the company's original founders.
Neil Kiefer, who runs Hooters Inc, spoke to Bloomberg News about his plans to rescue the chain, saying: “You go to some parts of the country and people say, ‘Oh, I could never go to Hooters, my wife would kill me.’ That’s depressing to us. We want to change that.”
The chain was founded on April Fool’s Day in 1983 by a group of businessmen.
In 2019, the company was sold to private equity just before the pandemic shutdowns severely impacted the business.
Since then, Hooters of America has accumulated $376 million (£291 million) in debt.
Other US "fast casual" chains have also faced challenges post-pandemic, with Red Lobster and TGI Fridays both filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in recent years.
Hooters has attempted to break into the UK market over the years, opening sites in Bristol and Cardiff in 2010 - which were both closed two years later.
A plan to open a location in Newcastle was scrapped after police claimed it would attract too many hen and stag parties.
The 2022 opening of a Hooters restaurant in Liverpool faced criticism from then-mayor Joanne Anderson, who described the chain as an "infamously sexually objectifying and misogynistic environment."
In its efforts to turn things around, Hooters has discontinued "bikini nights" and is aiming for waitstaff to serve tables within one minute of seating.
The company also plans to use fresher ingredients, like real butter in its buffalo sauce, as part of its revamped strategy.
Find Out More...
Staff will reportedly be told to greet female customers first and “bikini nights” - where waitresses serve guests wearing only swimwear - will be axed.
This comes after Hooters filed for Chapter II bankruptcy on Monday in Texas, which will serve to protect the company while chiefs finalise a rescue plan.
Founded in the 1980s, the chain has faced difficulties in recent years, accumulating debt during the pandemic under private equity ownership.
Additionally, Hooters has struggled to adjust to shifting societal attitudes following the MeToo movement.
In the past few years, the chain has faced constant accusations of misogyny for hiring young women and requiring them to wear skimpy outfits.
In 2021, female staff members criticised their employer for shortening the length of their shorts.
Right-wing critics have also blamed what they branded as “woke” ideas promoted by the Biden administration for the chain’s decline.
MORE LIKE THIS:
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The Conservative online publication The Washington Free Beacon claimed last month that Hooter’s struggles “coincided with the Democratic Party’s malicious efforts to shame men for liking boobs and denounce attractive women for embracing ‘body positivity’”.
The company operates approximately 300 restaurants, with half managed by its parent company, Hooters of America, and the remainder run by franchisees, including Hooters Inc, a group led by the company's original founders.
Neil Kiefer, who runs Hooters Inc, spoke to Bloomberg News about his plans to rescue the chain, saying: “You go to some parts of the country and people say, ‘Oh, I could never go to Hooters, my wife would kill me.’ That’s depressing to us. We want to change that.”
The chain was founded on April Fool’s Day in 1983 by a group of businessmen.
In 2019, the company was sold to private equity just before the pandemic shutdowns severely impacted the business.
Since then, Hooters of America has accumulated $376 million (£291 million) in debt.
Other US "fast casual" chains have also faced challenges post-pandemic, with Red Lobster and TGI Fridays both filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in recent years.
Hooters has attempted to break into the UK market over the years, opening sites in Bristol and Cardiff in 2010 - which were both closed two years later.
A plan to open a location in Newcastle was scrapped after police claimed it would attract too many hen and stag parties.
The 2022 opening of a Hooters restaurant in Liverpool faced criticism from then-mayor Joanne Anderson, who described the chain as an "infamously sexually objectifying and misogynistic environment."
In its efforts to turn things around, Hooters has discontinued "bikini nights" and is aiming for waitstaff to serve tables within one minute of seating.
The company also plans to use fresher ingredients, like real butter in its buffalo sauce, as part of its revamped strategy.
Find Out More...