DATE: Thursday, June 5, 1997                TAG: 9706050013

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  211 lines

LETTERS TO EDITOR -- THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

Putting a Hooters restaurant in Norfolk's Waterside won't improve the festival marketplace's image and will offend many taxpayers. That was the conclusion of an editorial last Thursday.

Readers were asked to comment, and more than 120 called in their hoots of approval - or disapproval. Here are some of the comments about the restaurant and the city's $300,000 investment in the project.

Not for families

I really don't think this is a good idea. Hooters is definitely not a family-atmosphere restaurant. I went to this restaurant once with my husband and my small child. While my husband and child were waited on and flirted with and given the utmost courtesy, I was totally ignored. This is not a good thing.

Sandy Alford

Norfolk

A tonic for Norfolk

Hooters is an awesome restaurant. I am a woman, 31 years old, and always wished that I could actually work in a place like that, just for the fun of it.

My husband is a naval officer and enjoys those types of places. I go with him and his friends to those places, and I think they're a lot of fun. Some people just need to relax. I think it's exactly what Norfolk needs and that it will draw a lot of business. It's a really good decision that they do this.

Jackie Heatherington

Virginia Beach

Puts Waterside off limits

We travel to Waterside and visit it when we have guests. If that restaurant goes in that mall, we will stop going to Waterside altogether.

I have two children who attend Virginia Beach schools and they use the dining facilities at Waterside very often. I will be a very loud and active voice with the schools so that from now on they do not use those dining facilities when the children go on field trips to Norfolk.

Graciela Finley

Virginia Beach

A word of advice . . .

In regard to the Hooters at Waterside, all I can say to all of you people who are getting excited about it is: ``Lighten up!''

R. A. Benzel

Norfolk

Not upscale or artsy

Hooters certainly would be detrimental to the image that I thought downtown Norfolk was trying to portray. I like to go to Waterside because it's upscale and sophisticated and artsy and multicultural and in good taste. Hooters is a big mistake, not even taking into consideration the expense to the citizens of Norfolk.

Doris Warren

Portsmouth

Much ado about nothing

This is much ado about nothing. I have a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old and I would much prefer to take them into a Hooters restaurant than I would the Bait Shack, which was the previous tenant in that location. I think it's a good atmosphere for kids; they enjoy it, and I have no problem with it.

Jerry Reuss

Virginia Beach

Back to the future

I agree with your article 100 percent. They might as well put a sign up saying: ``Welcome to East Main Street, we're back in business.''

Fannie Lou Ash

Portsmouth

Better than PETA!

I believe Hooters ought to be allowed to come in; at least they bring tax money in. PETA comes in and buys a $2 million building, pays no real estate tax whatsoever and we taxpayers have to pay for their building

Ken Hinderliter

Norfolk

Better than Nauticus!

Frankly I think your stand on Hooters is kind of hypocritcal. As I understand it, this $300,000 is more or less a loan and will be repaid. Not like that sinkhole Nauticus.

The sight of a woman in an abbreviated costume is far less offensive to me than the dress and actions of some people at some of the events. And I'm sure the language will be less offensive.

Louie Barco

Chesapeake

Not a hoot to police

I think it's ridiculous. I and my fellow police officers can't get a pay raise this year - cost of living or whatever you want to call it. Yet the City Council can approve $300,000 for Hooters?

J. B. Sullivan

20-year Norfolk police officer

Norfolk

A taxpayer's objections

Waterside has always had trouble leasing its available spaces. It never should have been expanded. To have taxpayer money going to support a sexist restaurant like Hooters is an insult to all of us, particularly when we're told by City Council that there is inadequate funding for schools, for roads, for neighborhood improvements.

Meredith Sabol

Norfolk

Not for after dark

Hooters is primarily for young men. How many young men are going to brave the terror of going downtown after dark, particularly to Waterside where parking is a pain?

Ron Mack

Norfolk

Spicing up Waterside

I'm 74 years old, a Norfolk native. I've been to Hooters on Military Highway three or four times, and I always found the young ladies there just perfect ladies - attractive people and certainly very nice. Also, the clientele there seemed very nice to me.

I think that Hooters will add some spice to Waterside and that it was a good decision by our city fathers to put that little bit of money in there.

Henry Schmoele

Norfolk

1-2-3 reasons for Hooters

I have three points to make, the first being: A $300,000 investment for a $1 million return makes perfect business sense to me.

Two: Some people are offended by ``Baywatch'' and choose to view other programs. If you're offended by Hooters, simply don't patronize Hooters.

Finally, as a gay male who eats at Hooters regularly, please consider - it's just a name.

W. S. Freeman

Norfolk

Offended? Stay away

In my opinion, Hooters waitresses will be dressed less offensively than the body-pierced teeny-boppers who roam Waterside. After all, those offended by Hooters can avoid patronizing the establishment.

Jim Beauchamp

Virginia Beach

Can't defend this one

I have wondered, basically, what was on council's mind - with the libraries being underfunded, taxpayers with flooded front yards . . . why spend $300,000 in bringing in something so controversial? I've been a longtime supporter of downtown projects. I've defended Nauticus and MacArthur Center to various detractors. I can't defend this one. Why not pull in a Hard Rock Cafe or something that is a proven magnet to tourists?

Terry Parker

Norfolk

Not a go-go bar

As a home owner/taxpayer in Norfolk, I believe it's a good idea for the area. It would be like the cornerstone of Waterside, a beautiful facility. They have them in Baltimore, in buildings looking similar to Waterside.

Hooters is not a go-go bar. Most of the girls in there could work go-go for a whole lot more money, but they're making an honest living and a lot less money to pay for college and whatever else. Hooters also serves good food. Certainly you could see more down at Virginia Beach than you would at Hooters.

In fact, we might want to make Nauticus a Hooters, because the family atmosphere there isn't bringing the families in and it's costing me tax money.

Steven Wilson

Norfolk

Equal opportunity . . .

I will support Hooters restaurant when 50 percent of the waiters are scantily clad males.

Diane Bryan

Norfolk

Embarrassing to families

Waterside to me is a family place to go. Last year I was down at the waterfront at Harborfest and I was so embarrassed. Hooters had its boat docked right in front of Waterside, and the way they carried on out there in the morning, even the adults didn't care to watch it. So I can't image what it would be like for families to take their children to Waterside and have to witness some of these things.

Frances Bergamo

Chesapeake

No naked bystanders

I have driven by the Hooters at Military Circle, and I have never seen any women standing outside naked or close to naked. You'd have to go into the restaurant to see anything that you wouldn't see from the outside.

It's painfully clear that Waterside does need some type of tenants that can add money to the city's revenue. If you don't want to see it, don't go in there.

Kenneth Miller

Norfolk

Not a topless car wash

There's a place in Jacksonville, Fla., called The Landing, and it's exactly like Waterside. They have a Hooters there, and it brings in more business than any of the other restaurants or nice little shops.

There's nothing wrong with it; it's not like it's a topless car wash right outside of Waterside. I think it will be beneficial. I say go for it, more power to you.

Tammy Gross

Norfolk

Don't subsidize any chain

It would not matter to me if it were a McDonald's or a Chuckie Cheese or any other kind of national chain restuarant that was going into Waterside. The point is, Norfolk should not be subsidizing a national chain restuarant, that makes millions of dollars a year profit, when schools in Norfolk are falling apart.

Martha Patterson

Virginia Beach

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