TA-TA! Hooters loses Long Island “breastaurant” war to Canz-a-Citi. (
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Long Island’s bra-ttle royal is over.
Iconic beer and boobs chain Hooters will close its Long Island and Queens locations after losing a bitter T&A tussle with upstart competitor Canz-a-Citi Roadhouse.
Taking direct aim at Hooters, Canz opened locations in Astoria, Westbury and Patchogue over the last two years, and quickly gained a loyal following.
The battle eventually led to charges of waitress poaching and corporate espionage on both sides.
With business plummeting at their East Meadow, Islandia and Farmingdale locations, the Long Island Hooters owners have cut ties with the brand, and will reopen as regular sports bars.
Suddenly out-of-work Hooters staffers rushed to join the other camp.
“We’ve had about 75 to 100 of their employees banging down our door,” said Canz’s triumphant co-owner Tim Lorito, 34, who said his franchise put Hooters out of its misery with an emphasis on wider beer selections and more personable waitresses.
“I think it’s just a stale brand,” he said. “What worked in the ’80s and ’90s isn’t going to work now.”
Lorito said Canz will soon open new locations upstate before going national.
But don’t assume that having Hooters on your resume puts you at the front of the line.
“It takes a lot more to be a Canz girl than a Hooters girl,” sniped Kimberly Valladaras, 21, of Huntington.
Former Hooters waitress Kimberly Valladaras, 21, of Huntington, defected to Canz a year ago.
“You have to be a robot at Hooters,” she said. “Here, you have to have something more, something special.”