Cold Comfort At Hooters

Sun Herald

Saturday June 7, 1997

By CRAIG HENDERSON

AT first it looked as though the waitresses were clutching their bodies to augment their already ample cleavage as they welcomed guests to the opening of the first Australian outlet of the American theme restaurant, Hooters, in Ashfield.

A glance at their chattering teeth, however, confirmed the scantily clad Hooters girls were simply hugging themselves to keep warm.

The theme at Hooters is breasts and the chain unashamedly takes its name from the American slang for the same.

The chilly temperature did not deter more than 800 people, mostly footballers, basketballers, Gladiators and, well, a horde of wide-eyed men from returning the Hooters girls' All-American welcome.

Most of those invited, including Australia's rugby league captain Brad Fittler, Vulcan and Mike Gibson, came alone.

The Rodney Adler-backed venture has drawn criticism from feminists and equal opportunity lobbyists.

There was, however, no formal protest at last week's opening.

"We knew it was coming and we're taking the good with the bad," Sydney CEO John de Vries said of the bad publicity.

But it was hard to find anyone who was offended.

"I was expecting their boobs to be a lot bigger," laughed Louise Thomson, 19, of Campbelltown.

The blokes certainly knew what it was all about.

Fittler, sporting a cast on his left arm, spent hours on the veranda with a permanent grin on his face.

"It's just amazing," he enthused, casting an eye over his female companions.

While the boozy opening gave patrons a chance to sample the Hooters wares - hamburgers ($8.25), fried chicken wings ($10.45 for 10), curly fries ($2.95) steamed prawns ($16.95) and beer (between $3.75 and $4.75) it also put the 40-odd Hooters girls through their paces.

Australia's first Hooters girl, former Brisbane dancer Jane Crichton, said she was completely relaxed.

"I don't have a problem with it at all," Crichton, 20, said.

"I don't see it as exploiting anyone.

"Yeah, it's a bit of fun."