Old Town Theater Hit with Hooters Hoax
Building owner Rob Kaufman confirms signs posted on the theater on Saturday morning were not true.
King Street pedestrians were met with a bit of a shock Saturday morning when they passed the vacant Old Town Theater.
Signage was posted on the building stating that Hooters—the Atlanta-based restaurant chain known for its fried chicken wings and scantily-clad female wait staff—was coming soon to the property located at 815½ King St.
The signage turned out to be nothing more than a hoax.
Theater owner Rob Kaufman confirmed to Patch early Saturday afternoon that bringing Hooters girls to King Street is not in his plans.
“Someone must have played a joke,” Kaufman wrote in an email, adding that the phony signs were being taken down.
In April, Alexandria’s Board of Architectural Review approved Kaufman’s plans to revitalize the building. Kaufman said then that the building likely will again house a theater, but it’s not a done deal.
Former owner Roger Fons closed the theater in January, citing a year of poor ticket sales, and sold the property to Kaufman.
Abhisek Mitra
12:05 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Whew!!!!!!!!
Gail G
12:35 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Epic prank!
Doug
1:08 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Did anyone get photos?!
Sujata Mitra
1:24 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Thank god! We were so upset when we saw the signs!
dtmfman
2:53 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
no one cares...just get a damn business in there and make some money...those of you "puritans" who don't like hooters...you don't have to eat there...get a life...
oldtowner
5:49 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Dear dtmfman,
Those who protest do have a life and want to keep the quality of this life in Old Town. This means not having a historic builidng turned over to a crass chain, and to not have to look at it, or children to look at it, even if never to "eat" there. Or the people who go to such places. Leave it for your town, not ours.
Rob Roudabush
5:52 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
And just what gives you the right to decide what kind of town Old Town should be?
JamesOnThePotomac
6:42 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Get off your high horse. Old has lots of saloons that could classified as just a single steep above a "dive" bar. Some with pool tables right down by the so called "historical" waterfront and one even has to have an "off duty" policeman in front to monitor the patrons. Get your mind out of the gutter!
Ken Stevens
10:02 pm on Monday, June 18, 2012
Just cover for the new sex toy store going in!
JamesOnThePotomac
6:26 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Excuse me. Just what in the world is wrong with "Hooters". I've been a big fan of "Hooters" for many years. They make great chicken, provide great customer service, and have always had a great environment to watch sporting events. In comparison to some of the other fast food places in Old Town; "Hooters" is a step up. The City has always been quick to approve "Big Busses", why not "Hooters"?
Rob W
8:09 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
To be fair James, you're a sexually deprived, reclusive, anti-social, friendless, mouth- drooling, social leper. Of course you love Hooters.
JamesOnThePotomac
9:01 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
I also like the wings!