Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Fortune
Fortune
Sasha Rogelberg

Hooters CEO says private equity turned it into a 'boys club hangout'—Now he's plotting a family-friendly makeover

A building has a sign reading "HOOTERS" in bright orange letters (Credit: Kevin Carter—Getty Images)

Neil Kiefer has fond memories of the original Hooters restaurant he cofounded in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida. Despite naming his chain with a heavy dose of innuendo, he and his partners intended it as a beachside dining spot for young people and families.

“It started as a place five miles from the beach,” Kiefer, now the CEO of Hooters Inc., told Fortune. “You came in from the beach, could throw some coveralls on, shorts…and it was a hangout.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.