Posted on 06/24/2006 6:45:36 AM PDT by radar101
RANCHO BERNARDO – Developer Ron Bamberger doesn't deny stepping into a Hooters once or twice. Even though he didn't really like the food, that's not the reason he thinks it's a bad idea for the company to open a restaurant in the area.
“We're in a high-end, award-winning master-planned community, and Hooters is not consistent with the culture,” he said.
Bamberger is president of Boardwalk Development, which among other ventures manages the shopping center on Bernardo Center Drive that houses Vons and other stores.
He said that for the good of the community where he does business, he's spearheading what he calls a grass-roots campaign against Hooters that includes residents and other businesses. Bamberger also is president of the Bernardo Town Center Property Owners Association.
Hooters goes against the family values in the community, he said.
Opponents will soon post signs around Rancho Bernardo that purportedly quote from a Hooters employee handbook: “The essence of the Hooters concept is entertainment through female sex appeal, of which the look is a key part.” The rest of the sign reads, “RB Says No to Hooters.”
Besides signs, residents are collecting signatures and statements outside Vons, Bamberger said. They plan to send the dozens of statements of opposition to San Diego city officials in charge of approving a restaurant's permit to operate, and to the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control that would approve its liquor license.
Hooters is known for waitresses in form-fitting shorts and tops delivering hot wings and burgers. Its name is slang for female breasts.
Fred Glick, president of Hoot Winc LLC, the partnership that owns and operates 24 other Hooters around the country, including one in Oceanside, said he's not worried about the opposition.
“While a small, vocal minority of the population may voice their concerns before we open new locations, those concerns are unfounded and quickly disappear” once residents visit the eatery, Glick said.
He added that Bamberger is mischaracterizing Hooters as a tawdry strip joint. Instead, he said, it's a restaurant that's casual and fun. It sells beer and wine only, Glick said, adding that up to $2 million would be spent to retrofit the abandoned, 6,300-square-foot-building that Hooters is scheduled to lease near Interstate 15 and Rancho Bernardo Road.
Still, more than 100 people packed a recent Rancho Bernardo Planning Board meeting to protest the restaurant. Councilman Brian Maienschein opposes it, too. But both the Planning Board and the Rancho Bernardo Community Council declined to take a position because they also heard from residents or businesses that support it.
The extra media attention generated by Bamberger's efforts may actually drive up business, Glick said, adding, “Now they have a reason to see what the fuss is all about.”
Glick said Bamberger may be opposed to Hooters because it would be next door to Bamberger's development company. Bamberger lost a bid to buy the property for his own expansion efforts, Glick said.
Bamberger said he tried to buy the property three years ago, but that his opposition has “absolutely nothing to do” with that. Hooters simply doesn't fit Rancho Bernardo, he said.
“I would welcome any other business,” Bamberger said.
Elena Gaona: (760) 737-7575; elena.gaona@uniontrib.com
Should we call you bro or bra?
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
Hooter's food is not very good at all. I'd rather save a couple of bucks and go to Chili's.
“I would welcome any other business,” Bamberger said.
How about a strip club, then?
“I would welcome any other business,” Bamberger said.
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Would probably be very happy with a local mosque.
Maybe not so happy with a McDonalds, or how about a gun shop, or the old reliable, WalMart.
That's gonna tick off about half the population who sport them - no?
They lord it over everyone else and then shop at Vons? If these self-proclaimed snobs think they are better than the rest of us based on yes to Vons but no to Hooters, they are nothing but trailer trash.
There is a Hooters in the Mall of America. The reason I know this is that I grew up in north Iowa so we got up there a few times.
My mother and sister went shopping. Dad and I sat at Hooters drinking beer for four hours.
I figure ordering food to be delivered from Hooters is like going to a bordello to read the magazines.
We have seen this all before. Sounds like a classic railroad baron land grab. Make someone else's property worhtless then buy it for a song.
Lawsuits against Hooters always come in pairs.
Ping
Geez, watch this link take off.
Reminds me of the clowns around here that petitioned against a car wash near their neighborhood. It wasn't that they had a problem with clean cars, but they really didn't want so many blacks and hispanics near their McMansions.
My liberal co-worker just couldn't see the irony of his position on that.
"Every Hooters I've ever been in has a lot of families with Mom, the kids, and Dad drooling all over his shirt."
I live in the birthplace of hooters. I don't eat their often as their food isnt the best but I rarely see families. A few kids, some women (mostly lesbians judging by appearance) and a bunch of guys drooling.
Some pretty women but I wouldn't want my wife or daughter to work there. Since all of the women there meet that criteria for someone I guess some guys/dads don't care about other men objectifying the women in their lives.
They just don't want blue collar working types in their neighborhood.
Manziere.
I can see where the locals would want to give Hooters the squeeze. I think it'd be smarter for them to let the owners spend their $2 mil on renovations. Then they could exercise imminent domain to grab the Hooters and suck them dry.
You got that right! I had always heard from people about how great their hot wings were, so years ago my wife and I stopped in at one on our way back from a day-long trip. I love hot wings (I made a dozen for my supper just last night!) and the hotter the better. I ordered Hooter's hottest wings (my wife had a burger or something), and I was anticipating something enjoyable. Sadly, it was not to be. They were without a doubt the worst "hot" wings I've ever had in my life. They weren't even hot and they were supposed to be the "Nuclear Volcano Lava Special", or whatever it is they claim is their hottest. My wife even tried one (and she doesn't really care for really hot, spicy food like I do) and she said they were lame and tame. She also said her burger was dry and not very tasty.
One time and I've never been back to a Hooter's again. Their food is substandard and I can see pretty girls anywhere (and most aren't expecting me to leave them a huge tip just for wearing tight clothes).
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