Hooters to Open Rohnert Park Restaurant in "About Six Months," Says Project Developer

The to be located at 6099 Redwood Dr. got the green light Thursday night when the Planning Commission unanimously approved plans to renovate the exterior of the building to include some orange paint, a Hooters sign that depicts an owl and 18 additional parking spaces.

The commission was charged solely with weighing the changes to the building — which currently houses three businesses, not to weigh the merits of the type of restaurant.

"This is a permitted use for the site; it's zoned regional commercial, just like Applebee's or Sheri's," said Planning and Building Manager Marilyn Ponton, who recommended the project.

Hooters, which will open in about six months pending a building inspection, will displace two existing businesses on the property that was built in 2006, according to the building's owner, Leroy Knibb, of Codding Enterprises. 

CPS Audio Video and White Glove Smog Check, which are both currently on month-to-month leases will have to relocate, Knibb said. 

"I had no idea until I read it in [the newspaper]," said Gene LeClerc, owner of White Glove Smog Check. 

LeClerc has owned a smog check business locally since 1996, but has only been in the Redwood Drive location for three years, he said.

"I planned on retiring in two years or so, but now that I'm going to have to close down, I decided to just retire now," he said.

Greg Deniz, who runs CPS Audio and Video, also said he had no idea about the Hooters deal until Thursday morning. 

"I literally just found out about this," Deniz said. "I'm month-to-month right now, but we were negotiating a new lease until a few months ago. Now this. I'm not upset, I know business is business."

The property has storefronts flanking the two businesses that are being forced out: Sleep City Mattress Center (which is staying) and a former bakery that's now empty.

"I'm excited to get the building fully leased," said Knibb, who added that he's been working with the Hooters owners for about a year to find the right location.

"This place is perfect — it's the focal point in between Petaluma and Santa Rosa, it has and it's near commercial outlets," said John Trani, vice president of development for the Hooters franchise, which also owns five other Hooters in the Bay Area (located in San Francisco, Dublin, Fremont, San Bruno and Campbell).

The original Hooters opened in Clearwater, Florida in 1983, and currently there are currently 455 restaurants nationwide, according to a staff report. Hooters is popular for its wings, but the menu also offers different assortments of starters, seafood, burgers, sandwiches and salads.

According to plans, the Rohnert Park Hooters will occupy about half the building (nearby Valley Furniture, Sonoma Valley Bagel and Cafe and Costco), will use most of the parking spots, and will have seating for 197 people. The proposed hours are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. till 1 a.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. till 11 p.m.

Trani said the franchise will employ between 35 and 40 "Hooters girls" and about 30 additional "gender-neutral" positions, such as kitchen staff and bussers.

"We're really exited about opening up in Rohnert Park," Trani said.

Although it wasn't up to planning commissioners to allow or disallow Hooters to move in to town, many said they were in favor of it.

"We want businesses to come to Rohnert Park and succeed," said Vice Chairperson Susan Adams. "The property is zoned for this kind of restaurant, and as for the restaurant itself, the market is going to decide whether or not it does well."

Commissioner Gerard Giudice agreed that any new business that can attract people to Rohnert Park, and fill a void in the city's vacant properties is a good thing. 

"It's economic development, and it's great," said Giudice, who also owns a restaurant in town, . "It'll take up some dead space and It's positive that businesses are looking at Rohnert Park and seeing us as a vibrant place that's up-and-coming."

"I support anything that fosters investment in Rohnert Park," said Commissioner John Borba. "Our job isn't to decide the type of restaurant, just to look at if it fits the city's zoning."