Hooters might land in Center

Jackson Bell

The Hooters restaurant chain is setting its sights on Burbank, and

could open in the Media City Center as early as May, mall and

restaurant officials said Tuesday.

The beach-themed sports restaurant, famous for its provocatively

dressed female servers, has submitted an application for a building

permit for the site at 600 N. 1st St., city officials said. The

7,000-square- foot space was occupied by Crabby Bob’s seafood

restaurant.

Charlie Christensen, regional vice president of management for

General Growth Properties, which manages tenants for Crown Realty &

Development, the mall’s owner, said his company has been courting the

Atlanta-based restaurant chain for several months.

“We’re trying to bring someone in that is proven and will bring a

quality product to the center,” Christensen said. “We think that

Hooters, with its national name recognition, is going to be a great

draw.”

The Burbank restaurant would tap into a customer base not

presently served in the San Fernando Valley area, said Jennifer

Zmurk, vice president of marketing for HootWinc LLC, a Hooters

franchisee based in Oceanside.

“It’s just an excellent area,” Zmurk said. “As far as the

demographics and [high] population of the area, this is a location we

want to be at.”

Burbank Community Development Director Sue Georgino could not be

reached for comment Tuesday.

Christensen said the restaurant will be a good fit because it

provides a place for people to watch sports, order a meal, have a

drink of wine or beer, and relax with friends.

“Hooters is a destination- oriented restaurant,” he said. “[This

location] has excellent visibility from the freeway, and close

proximity to the adjoining mall and theaters.”