Regardless of Hooters just lately submitting for Chapter 11 chapter, CEO Sal Melilli is assuring prospects that the long-lasting restaurant isn’t going away anytime quickly.
In a March 31 press launch, the chain introduced a restructuring assist settlement (RSA), permitting the enterprise to handle its money owed whereas preserving its doorways open.
“This is a huge inflection moment for our brand. We couldn’t be more excited for our customers and employees,” Melilli advised “Fox & Friends” on Thursday. “The original owners are taking back the concept, returning it to its roots, and restoring the success it’s enjoyed for 42 years.”
As a part of the corporate’s efforts to revitalize the long-lasting model, Hooters is discontinuing weekly bikini nights, together with brisker and higher-quality elements on the menu and establishing a common normal for waitress service.
Moreover, the corporate plans to prioritize charity work and group occasions, efforts which were a core a part of Hooters’ id since its founding in 1983.
“We do programs like Wings for Children, for education. We sponsor first responders. We do Veterans’ days, breast cancer programs with the V Foundation, the Moffitt Cancer [Center], Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital,” Melilli defined.
“We’ve always done those things. Now, it’s an opportunity to return to that. While every owner has brought its own flavor to this, we’re about to return to our roots with our original group out of Clearwater and bring it back to what the brand’s all about.”
Regardless of the restaurant’s controversial waitress uniforms, which have drawn widespread criticism over time, Melilli famous that ladies and kids now make up the vast majority of prospects at some Hooters areas.
“Some of our restaurants, we’ve got 65% of our customers are women and children. We sponsor little league teams, we sponsor sports teams. We really are a neighborhood restaurant that participates in its neighborhood,” the CEO mentioned.
“We’re just really going to focus on that. We’re going to go back to our roots. We’re going to go back to the underlying premise that made this brand what it is today.”
Per the CEO, present Hooters eating places will stay open to prospects and function as business-as-usual through the restructuring course of.
