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Hooters in the Holy Land
Next time you're in Tel Aviv -- tired from traveling, homesick, and looking for a little comfort food -- you can sit back, relax, and experience some all-American hospitality, half-way around the globe. Hooters is opening its first location in Israel.
It's a restaurant known, kind of, for its spicy chicken wings, but mostly for its servers -- "Hooters Girls," who bring you food and beer in low-cut blouses and short skirts. And, according to the man behind the move, Ofer Ahiraz, it can "suit the Israeli entertainment culture."
"I strongly believe that the Hooters concept is something that Israelies are looking for," says Ahiraz.
While there will probably be minor changes to meet Israeli tastes -- such as keeping the restaurants away from large religious populations, and making all the food kosher -- the restaurants will look a lot like the chain's other locations across the U.S., China, Switzerland, Australia, Brazil and beyond.
Over the next two years the company plans to open additional restaurants in Colombia, Dubai, Guam, New Zealand and India.
So it's official, the tackiest restaurant in the U.S. will now lead the way as America's most ubiquitous cultural ambassador. Great.
Filed under: Food and Drink, Israel
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
cwwindley Mar 26th 2007 2:36PM
I can not believe that they would want to go over to Israel. The main reason why is b/c of the fact that it is the holy land, and it should stay that way. Why is it so hard for the religious crowd to live a happy life without everywhere they turn there is some sex advertisment to stare them in the face. What is this world coming to.
Deborah Mar 26th 2007 2:40PM
My opinion and my opinion ONLY! I feel that HOOTERS need to STAY away from the HOLY LAND! There is enough SIN in LIFE
Dustin Mar 26th 2007 2:50PM
First, they are in shorts, and not skirts. Second, everyone complains about what they wear, but is it that bad? Go to the beach, and you will see a whole lot more skin. Yes they gain a lot of business from having flirty waitresses who are attractive, but thats business. If theycan go there and be successful they have the right to be there. This won't be sex advertisement starring them right in the face, unless they go in and give them business.
Ann Marie Mar 26th 2007 3:08PM
Unbelievable! What is this world coming to? It's definitely a man's world out there, isn't it. Why do these girls degrade themselves, I know, money, money money.Guys can wear thongs and no shirt and we can call the restraunts PECKER'S.
charity Mar 26th 2007 3:23PM
That restaurant (and strip places) shouldn't even be in the U.S. (or even exist at all).
Also, (as to the beach idea) adults and Children go to the beach to swim; however, places like that restaurant are catered for one idea only.
eva ave Mar 26th 2007 3:25PM
This is just horrible...the world already thinks Americans are stupid and Hooters just adds to this. Hooters in the Holy land??? Seems pretty stupid to me.
wriznsun Mar 26th 2007 3:26PM
So sad!! It is bad enough we have to deal with things here in the US. But to put a hooters in the Holy Land is just shocking to me. Corruption is everywhere.
Bret Mar 26th 2007 3:58PM
I guess all of you religious douchebags would rather go to war on idiotic boundary issues and 'my god can beat up your god' stuff. Turn on the cameras and it's 'Death to the USA'...turn off the cameras and they're clamoring to get to the USA. The 'Holy Land' has been blown up more times than anyone can count. I hate Hooters, but they have every right to pursue business anywhere they want. Yes, Mrs. Peckers, It IS a man's world.
Slikrik1212 Mar 26th 2007 4:06PM
Wow! That's a nice rack. I shall happily grant them "30 rack" status.
cblucky7 Mar 26th 2007 4:07PM
I think it's a great idea. No matter where you are in the world, all men enjoy a good meal, sports on tv, and having attractive women to look at is an added bonus. Oh, by the way, those of you who are worried about desecrating the holy land need to keep in mind that this is one of the most violent places to live. I feel like if you want to protest something, maybe you should protest suicide bombers.
michelle Mar 26th 2007 4:12PM
I don't see what all the fuss is about. If you don't like it don't go there! Honestly, I think people are being a little too uptight. Just because your bitter that you don't have the body of a Hooter's girl doesn't mean they should ban the restaurant. Maybe if you got up off the couch for an hour a day and worked out you would feel better about yourself!
Barry Mar 26th 2007 4:20PM
First of all, and unlike most who will post here this comes from someone who's been to Israel twice, going to Tel Aviv is like going to Chicago... Secondly, as Tel Aviv is right on the Mediterranean, you'll see WAY more on the beach than you will in any Hooters. Young Israeli women happen to often be VERY hot and they know it - I'd LOVE to be there for the tryouts....
Devynn Mar 26th 2007 4:34PM
you expect to see skimpy clothing at a beach b/c who wants to get dragged down in the heat and water by clothes!? but The Holy Land?! i doubt they'll last. there are enough religious zealots there ALL OVER THE PLACE to knock them out within a year of them setting up shop. and there IS a resturant called Peckers that is the same idea as Hooters, only for women. so turnabout here IS fair play! :) i just wish they'd stay out of places KNOWN for their religious conservatism, or at the very least, historically known for being the birth place of a religion. then they wouldn't have to deal with the fall out and wasted money. as for out lawing adult entertainment (post number five), that's the most anti liberal thing i've heard all day! but i guess you can't get any play with those kind of places around, now can you? ha! or you must be a "Christian." i don't care what Christians in the US say, we're NOT a Christian Nation. we're an agnostic one. we only call on God when it suits us. THINK ABOUT IT!
linda Mar 26th 2007 4:37PM
The Pecker's restaurant sounds like a good retort to the sexualization of women... Still, it's a woman's choice to work in a place like Hooters. But let's even the field. Any guys want to work at the new chain? Hm. Thought not.
JP Mar 26th 2007 4:38PM
First of all, Israel, "the Holy Land" has a large population that isn't all that holy, just regular folks.
Second of all, Hooters waitresses wear running shorts and t-shirts, not "low cut blouses and short skirts." Everybody knows that, except the moron who wrote this little piece.
Third, people need to relax. What's wrong with attractive women, and men, enjoying and indeed profiting from their sexuality? Since when did that become a crime? No one is forcing you to go into a Hooters.
kpau Mar 26th 2007 4:40PM
There is a Peckers? Where?
popaydoll Mar 26th 2007 4:48PM
Please! You guys need to lighten up. I worked for Hooters for a couple of years a little while back, and I am no fallen woman....far from it! It's a waitressing job! You act like it's a prostitution ring! Have you ever even been in one? Guys check out women all the time, and if a woman is proud of how she looks enough to show it, and not be coy and pretend that she isn't (like most women do-unless they really are not proud) that is her business. It is hard enough to make a living in this world much less to be judged so negatively. Ladies, it's going to stay a 'man's world' until we can be more supportive of each other, even when it's making a choice you don't agree with. Women do this all the time, they quote 'women's lib' to feel vindicated when really they just come off as jelous and insecure. They lie to themselves and claim the moral right when they just feel inadequate. I have never known a confident woman to cry fowl at Hooters. If you are religious and feel that places like Hooters are some how in conflict with your values, that's fine. That's your right. Just don't tell me how to live my life! Nobody is making you go there. Noone is making it hard on you except you.
As for the rest of the world, nobody is as hung up sexual issues as America is....including Israel. I don't think anyone else really gives a hoot!
ryan Mar 26th 2007 5:08PM
i really dont see anything wrong with any of this people just need to lighten up. there is nothing wrong with women serving beer and wings in shorts and a tank top
Wayne Mar 26th 2007 5:21PM
My comment: I;m not a gynocologist, but I;ll take a look.
Casey Mar 26th 2007 5:23PM
All of you stupid conservative religous freaks (notice I do not say Christians)need to just chill out a little. I dated a girl who worked at Hooter's all through my college years and she was not a "stripper" by any stretch of the imagination. Hooter's obviously is a great idea for a restaurant or they wouldn't have exploded all of the country and now the world. What makes you think that Tel Aviv is any different than Tulsa, OK (where they do have a Hooter's much to the dissatisfaction of the local Bible Thumpers)? It's not like Hooter's is going in next to that rock in Mecca or in Jerusalem next to the birth place of Christ.