Hooters of Kalamazoo (w/ Response from Hooters)

[redskin]

I recently went out to dinner with a couple friends at the Hooter's on Westnedge in Kalamazoo. It was about 10:00pm on a Wednesday, so there were only a couple other tables and plenty of extra wait staff.

I sat down alone on one side of the table with my two friends opposite me. The waitress sat down next to me several times and didn't notice my XDm 9mm in a shoulder holster. Later though, she noticed and asked a lot of questions about it. She was really impressed that I carried openly and asked questions that led me to believe she was interested in carrying herself. Then she goes about her business. No problems at all. This happens after we've been there for at least an hour.

The manager, who has been walking within a foot of me the whole time, walks past me a couple times before stopping and asking for himself if I was carrying a gun. He said, "Cool," and that was the full extent of the conversation I had with him.

10 minutes later, I'm finished with my food and just waiting for my friend to finish his food. The Portage police arrive. They come just inside the door where I can see them, speak with the manager for a moment, then come over and tell me that, while they know what I am doing is well within my rights, the Manager wants me to take it off or leave.

Now, I had already given the waitress my credit card and was waiting to get it back, so I just left, but the way the Manager handled the situation really irked me.

I'm contacting Hooters corporate for their official position on this subject, and if they contradict the Manager's opinion, I'll go back, maybe with a few of you guys in tow

[TheQ]

This is really unfortunate. I was at the Hooters in Lansing about a month ago with no problem, but maybe no one noticed.

I consider the place a "bar", though the majority of sales may not be alch. served on premise. I play it safe and I wouldn't conceal...

BTW, I have an XDm 9mm. I love it. Good choice!

[redskin]

My biggest worry was also that it was a bar, but I took my jacket off before going through the door to cover that.

And I always say, there is only one thing in the world that feels better in my hands than my XDm9, and thats my d**k.

[Super Trucker]

If it were a horizontal shoulder holster, that might be the reason for concern.

[redskin]

Why would a horizontal shoulder holster be cause for alarm?

[JSteinmetz]

Some people are afraid of the muzzle pointing backwards at them.

[Super Trucker]

JSteinmetz is correct.
Anybody that was behind you had a muzzle pointing at them.


Does anybody know what Hooters policy on guns is?

[kryptonian]

holster probably like this 

[redskin]

Okay, I've got the current e-mail exchange with Hooters that I will post below.


My letter to Hooters of America (1/27/11 0826):

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Commissioner xxxxx Horner and I am writing you to request the official firearms policy of Hooters of America. If that policy is made on a state-to-state basis, I would request the information for the State of Michigan and the State of Indiana, respectively.

This inquiry follows a recent incident occurring in Hooters of Kalamazoo where I, lawfully possessing a firearm, was asked to leave by peace officers summoned by the Hooters management. In spite of good behavior and a nearly empty restaurant, the Hooters Manager chose to call law enforcement to escort me off the premises without speaking to me or asking me to leave personally. A situation that could have been solved by respectfully and quietly addressing me personally was instead handled with the embarrassment and show of the Portage Police Dept.

While I can shrug off the indignation, I can not ignore the threat to my own personal safety that is created by a prohibition of the lawful possession of a firearm.

I thank you for your time in considering my inquiry and I look forward to a timely response.

Best regards,

xxxxx Horner
xxxxxxxxxxx Street
Dowagiac, MI 49047
(xxx) xxx-xxxx

Response from Mike McNeil, VP of Marketing, Hooters of America (1/27/11 1709):

Dear Mr. Horner,

Thank you for your e mail concerning your experience in our Kalamazoo Michigan location. As for our policy concerning firearms in Hooters locations we do not have one. It is our practice to follow the laws in the respective states we do business in. Towards that end our managers are instructed that should questions arise about an armed guest they should have the local law enforcement authorities make the determination if a guest is in compliance. It is my understanding that is what happened in your case. The situation of guest entering our locations armed is something that happens so rarely it is not practical to train managers in how to deal with it. I have worked for Hooters for 20 years and been to our units all over the world and I have never felt my safety required carrying a weapon.

Again thanks for your communication and hopefully I answered your question.

Mike McNeil
VP Marketing
Hooters of America

My response (1/27/11 2333):

Dear Mr. McNeil,

I appreciate your timely and personal response. Thank you.

While the sequence of events may indicate that law enforcement was called to determine my compliance, that is not the case. Law enforcement was called to escort me off the property, even though they informed me that I had violated no statute they were aware of. To put it bluntly, the Manager decided to kick me out long before the police arrived (and after I had paid for my meal).

To make it absolutely clear, as long as I am carrying lawfully, according to the laws duly decided by the People of the State of Michigan or the state I am in, I am welcome in any Hooters establishment. Is this correct?

Best regards,
xxxxx Horner

More to come as I get it.

[Super Trucker]

Ask him for an answer that you can post on gun forums where tens of thousands of people that eat and carry guns read.

I have worked for Hooters for 20 years and been to our units all over the world and I have never felt my safety required carrying a weapon.

Ask him if ever in his 20 years at Hooters, has a car ever been broke into in a Hooters parking lot. Ask him how he would feel if your legal gun were to be stolen from your car by a criminal, because he felt there were no need to carry a weapon.

[WwRGSwW]

I had my XD 9mm SC on my hip for 6 hours in the hooters in Troy, MI back in Oct.    Sat there the whole time watching football with some buddy's and no one said a word to me.

[autosurgeon]

Nice how he waited untill you were done so he could get the money out of you anyway for the meal...

[scot623]

That is a very well written email. Thank you for representing OCers in a good light. I look forward to the response to your follow up email, although I am happy to take his response on it's face and carry at Hooters in the future if I so choose.

[TheQ]

I'm gonna go eat at Hooter (Lansing)  right now. Yes, I'll be packing.

[ocdetroit]

For  :)kicks and giggles, if i went to Hooters as a paid customer i would not be looking at what the next guy is packing, just the girls. . Carry O.

[TheQ]

I'm gonna go eat at Hooter (Lansing)  right now. Yes, I'll be packing.

No problems in Lansing tonight...

[mopedman]

For  :)kicks and giggles, if i went to Hooters as a paid customer i would not be looking at what the next guy is packing, just the girls. . Carry O.

That is what I was just thinking.