San Bruno supports new Hooters

Hot wings and beer served by women donning the iconic orange Hooters shorts could soon be a dining option for patrons of the Shops at Tanforan after the San Bruno Planning Commission approved the alcohol permit for the proposal Tuesday.

An alcohol permit for a Hooters, planned to open at 1150 El Camino Real No. 210 in the Shops at Tanforan was approved by the Planning Commission Tuesday. It was one of three restaurant-related permits that went before the commission. San Bruno could soon also have a new burger joint at 851 Cherry Ave. No. 19 and a restaurant at the Crossings.

"It is important to the city that vacant restaurant spaces are being filled and new commercial developments are being created, especially during this economy,” said Community Development Director Aaron Aknin.

Doug Kappy, vice president of operations for Hottwings, Inc., was drawn to the San Bruno location since it was between the airport and Candlestick Park.

"It’s a great mix of business and residential,” he said, adding the mall is a great location.

Kappy set an aggressive November opening date.

San Bruno first became aware of interest from Hottwings, Inc., the Modesto-based company looking to open a Hooters franchise in San Bruno, about two months ago, said Aknin. Plans have since gone through an architectural review and Tuesday’s permit approval. Next step would be to pull building permits.

Plans include 273 seats, 219 inside the restaurant and 54 on an outside patio. Ninety-one of the inside seats will be in the bar area. The restaurant will be open 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends.

The alcohol permit approval came with a condition from the police department that a fully licensed, unarmed and bonded uniformed security guard patrol the restaurant during the first week of business from 4 p.m. until closing. Aknin noted a similar condition was placed on the movie theater when it opened last year.

Hooters is a franchise with more than 450 locations in 43 states and 26 countries, according to the corporate Web site.

Hooters was one of three restaurants discussed Tuesday.

A burger restaurant with beer and wine at 851 Cherry Ave. No. 19 could also be open soon. The restaurant also needed an alcohol permit. Neither Hooter nor the burger restaurant needed a conditional use permit since restaurants are allowed through the current zoning.

The burger place will be located in the Bayhill Shopping Center. It’s slated to be 1,560 square feet with seating for about 35 people. Lunch and dinner will be served and the restaurant plans to be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Aknin estimated it would open in a couple of months.

Lastly, the Planning Commission approved a parking variance for the planned development of a large restaurant at Admiral Court as part of the Crossings development across from the Shops at Tanforan.

Heather Murtagh can be reached by e-mail: heather@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 105.