Arlington, TX

After nearly 3 years, the South Arlington Hooters is now able to sell beer and alcohol. They never stopped serving beer, allowing customers to have 2 free beers with their meal, but had been fighting for a license to sell adult beverages for years.

The fight began in 2005 when an ultra conservative community group, calling themselves Partnership for Community Values, was able to convince a judge to suspend the location’s liquor license. They weren’t happy that Hooters had come to their neighborhood and hoped, by having their liquor license revoked, that the Hooters would be forced to close down and move elsewhere.

In response, Hooters began giving away up to 2 beers per guest while majority owner Kelly Hall fought the court battle. Hooters estimates that they gave away over $1.2 million worth of beer during the 30 months without a license. Yesterday, Hooters received a favorable ruling in the State Office of Administrative Hearings. A license issued by the TABC was delivered to the store and they began selling beer around 4:00 pm.

“Clearly this extremist group underestimated the will of Hooters to pursue justice and wage this battle,” said Mike Herrick the Executive Vice President of Texas Wings, the company that owns the 43 Hooters restaurants in Texas. “We felt we had a responsibility to our owners, employees and guests to put up this fight. If we had not stopped these opponents of freedom here there’s no telling where it could have led. Treating lawful and taxpaying employers in this way is not in the best interest of South Arlington or Texas,” continued Herrick.

The South Arlington Hooters is located at I-20 and Green Oaks in the Movie Tavern shopping center.

Now will this help or hurt Hooters? Sure they can sell alcohol, but I know many people who went there purely for the free beer. Weigh in with your thoughts.

Arlington, Arlington TX, Hooters, Liquor License, Beer, Free Beer