Appropriately, Hooters was originally founded on April Fool’s Day in 1983.
The group of six businessmen who started the venture had no prior restaurant experience, but they got a kick out of the idea. So, in October 1983, the doors opened for the first Hooters restaurant in Clearwater, Fla. Those six men are L.D. Stewart, a painting contractor; Gil DiGiannantonio, a liquor salesman; “Uncle Billy” Ranieri, a retired service station owner; Ed Droste, a real estate executive; Dennis Johnson, a brick mason by trade; and Ken Wimmer, a partner in the painting business with L.D. Strange group.
The first Hooters girl, Lynne Austin, was hired on a bet during a bikini contest.
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