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
I'm so glad the media is on top of current events. What ever would I do without them?
The media is finding some kook to reporte as a "model conservative" in order to ridicule the cause just before the november election.
It is really simple, if you don't like it don't go.
Hooters airline suffered the proper free enterprise fate.
Commonly known as snobs.
Here I was thinking it was because Spotted owl was on the menu.
Every Hooters I've ever been in has a lot of families with Mom, the kids, and Dad drooling all over his shirt.
Hooters goes against the family values in the community, he said.
Well,which is it? Will Hooters damage the moral fabric....or property values?
In my best Thurston Howell III voice: "Hootahs is for lit-tle people".
I give my support to the Hooters.
Not his choice to make. What if the county commissioners prohibited him from running for office because HE was not "high-end" enough.
Downright un-American.
Talk about great free advertising for Hooters.
Rancho Bernardo = Baja Escondido
Hot and populated by people not high-end enough to buy a home in a coastal area.
"Its name is slang for female breasts."
I wonder if the MSM and the other slimes will ever understand that "liberal" is slang for treasonous, anti-American, Islamofascism and commie/leftist/socialist appeasing, intolerant fascist oppression?
Or is it just me that thinks that?
Oh, no, they DITN'T.
Xena's Guy will be there to support the Hooterettes in whatever capacity they need.
nice to see a man drooling over someone other than his wife, BARF!
However, when me and my DH went into a Hooters it was cause I wanted their wings and not one of the girls was pretty or had Hooters, lol! Considering my DH is a personal trainer and works with women wearing tight fitting outfits it didn't bother him in the least and he saw nothing that made him drool.
I personally think Hooters is way overrated!
This is CA right? No doubt a gay bathhouse will be approved by the planning board to occupy the property at issue.
With both hands.
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