Vs. Goliath: Twin Peaks vs Hooters

With the Superbowl just a few days away, restaurants are gearing up for one of their busiest weekends. While takeout will be a popular choice for many, sports bars are about to be packed to capacity. This will certainly apply to one of the most popular sports bars in the U.S., Hooters, the company known equally for their wings and wait staff. While Hooters is one of the most well-known sports bars of this type, they aren’t the dominating force they once were. Challengers like Twin Peaks are muscling in on their territory and bringing some fresh flavor with it. With so much at stake this weekend, does a restaurant like Twin Peaks have enough pull to outdo a classic?

Before it was an icon, Hooters was the brainchild of six businessmen who had no prior restaurant experience. They were driven to create the concept because they were tired of getting escorted from bars and wanted their own place where no one could kick them out. Throw in some hot wings and an entirely female wait staff and Hooters was born in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida. The concept was an instant success as the owners tapped into three key elements that their customers wanted: women, wings, and sports. In hindsight it seems like a pretty simple recipe for success, the greatest ideas always do. Hooters quickly expanded throughout the U.S. and now the company has locations in twenty-nine different countries. Even though they have become a massive chain, the company has strived to keep that local feeling at each of their restaurants while also investing in the community. It’s a major feat for such a recognizable chain to feel like a local bar.

While Hooters is the poster boy for the sports bar, they are not the only player in the game. Twin Peaks was founded in 2005 and owners had quite a bit of previous restaurant experience. They wanted to take the classic sports bar concept and elevate with a few unique changes while using the same pillars as Hooters. Twin Peaks also features an all-female wait staff, yet they feature a mountain lodge theme in both attire and interior design. The company also prides itself on serving beer that is consistently colder than competitors, 29° is what they aim for, and they serve it in a frosted mug that uses a proprietary freezing process. In the kitchen, they focus on making the food from scratch, providing an upscale feeling for what can sometimes feel like traditional bar food. The company has seen major success with their formula and has proven that there is significant room for growth in the sports bar space. Just last week, the company launched their IPO. As a publicly traded company, the sky is really the limit.

In this series we have seen some real battles, yet this one might be different. Twin Peaks can absolutely catch Hooters, and they could be our next goliath. Sports bars will always be popular and there is always a new angle to improve on. Twin Peaks and Hooters locations across the U.S. will be packed this Sunday and we will check in next year and see if Twin Peaks has taken the lead.