Hundreds of Thousand Oaks residents aren’t happy about a new Hooters restaurant that’s slated to open in the area, city officials said. The new Hooters is set to open at 401 N. Moorpark Rd. in Janss Marketplace, said Mark Towne, deputy director and city planner for the community development department. It is moving to a vacant space that was formerly occupied by a Fuddruckers restaurant and then a Pat & Oscar’s restaurant, he said. The new Hooters location will be operated by Oceanside-based restaurant management company and franchisee Hootwinc LLC. About 100 employees will be hired at the new site, said Hootwinc CEO Rick Leukert. The city’s community development department recently held a comment period for a special use permit application for the restaurant to allow it to provide a full bar, Towne said. The city received 268 communications of opposition, compared to 68 in favor, he said. There were also four petitions against the restaurant’s opening, which included 326 signatures, he added. “I haven’t seen this type of response in the last four years that I’ve worked with the planning commission,” Towne said. “The real concern seems to be more with the corporate entity itself rather than that actual request for a full bar.” The new restaurant would be the only Hooters in Ventura County. The closest Hooters restaurants are located in Burbank and Hollywood. Towne said the department will next set up an administrative hearing that will determine whether the restaurant get the special use permit, which can be appealed. —Jessica Vernabe
Hooters Opening in Thousand Oaks
