HULK HOGAN's New Restaurant Dress Code.

[Matt Crunk]

I saw an article today about a new restaurant in Tampa, Florida owned by Pro-Wrestling personality Hulk Hogan, that is being called racist for trying to enforce a dress code. While it seems a little odd considering Hogan himself is a poster boy for some of the prohibited items (do-rags/bandanas in particular), it would seem to me that saying the list targets one race or ethnic group more than another is in itself a stereotyping and racist statement.

Below is a photo of the dress code rules they tried to enforce. Apparently Hogan had it removed as soon as it started getting bad press.

 

[HudsonHawk]

I've been to Hogan's place, and it's a pretty typical tourist beach bar/restaurant. I've never noticed a particular crowd that wears gang-related items, though I also notice that the rules are for the inside restaurant, not the outside bar. The "no caps backwards" is the surprising one to me, as it would rule out the roided up spring break meatheads the place caters to.

Ironically, this is what they're advertising for their upcoming Halloween party (see if you can spot the dress code violations):



On a side note, their buffalo shrimp at 1:00 am when you have to be on the boat fishing at 5:00am is NOT a good idea.

 

[jamespowers]

I saw an article today about a new restaurant in Tampa, Florida owned by Pro-Wrestling personality Hulk Hogan, that is being called racist for trying to enforce a dress code. While it seems a little odd considering Hogan himself is a poster boy for some of the prohibited items (do-rags/bandanas in particular), it would seem to me that saying the list targets one race or ethnic group more than another is in itself a stereotyping and racist statement.

Below is a photo of the dress code rules they tried to enforce. Apparently Hogan had it removed as soon as it started getting bad press.

I am going to have to copy that and have a few signs made out for my next party.
Come to think of it, it should be on my front door.

 

[LizzieMaine]

"Beach attire is required." Does that mean someone in a coat and tie would be turned away? Unless they define beach attire in the Richard Nixon sense...

 

[jamespowers]

Unless they define beach attire in the Richard Nixon sense...

My kind of beach attire.

 

[HudsonHawk]

"Beach attire is required." Does that mean someone in a coat and tie would be turned away? Unless they define beach attire in the Richard Nixon sense...

Well, Hogan's is not even actually on the beach, so they're probably pretty liberal with their interpretation.

 

[Stanley Doble]

Jumping to the conclusion the listed attire is confined to one group.... thas rayciss.

 

[Shangas]

For something to be defined as 'racist', it would actually have to be prejudiced or discriminatory against a specific RACE. Or to be more specific, a particular ETHNICITY.

What ethnicity is being prevented from entering this restaurant based on those rules? Absolutely anyone could dress like that. It's not racist at all.

 

[Fastuni]

From the clothing described it obviously targets middle-class white kids from the suburbs who love to put on "gangsta" airs.

 

[HudsonHawk]

From the clothing described it obviously targets middle-class white kids from the suburbs who love to put on "gangsta" airs.

That's actually who the bar wants. What they don't want is the real thing.

 

[Guttersnipe]

From the clothing described it obviously targets middle-class white kids from the suburbs who love to put on "gangsta" airs.

Oh SNAP!

 

[sheeplady]

I've found (in my experience) that all a dress code tends to do in most places is allow an establishment to turn people away at will, with little explanation other than "you don't fit the dress code." While the same establishment "ignores" the dress code to allow those they want in.

Enter all sorts of reasons why a business may want to turn someone away.

 

[nick123]

Some nightclubs have similar rules instated. The explanation given to me was that it was "gang attire". With hopes to avoid violence, which happens quite often.

 

[Matt Crunk]

Enter all sorts of reasons why a business may want to turn someone away.

As a business owner dealing directly with the public for over 14 years, I can think of many I wish I could have turned away. Some types you just don't want to deal with - based on attitude of course, not race or ethnicity. My business was tattooing. I can say the bar business is no different, having often helped out a friend of mine with his restaurant/bar and serving as doorman on several occasions.

 

[Edward]

It's very easy to see how this could be represented as targetting a particular sub-group of a particular ethincity, whether that's fair or not. I believe the contemporary term for that of which they have been accused is "covert racism". My own instinct is that had they really been gonig down that track, they'd have been far more likely to keep the sign in place and howl "racist!" at anyone who objected to it. I'm all for any establishment keeping sports colours out, but really, that dense a dress code for this sort of establishment does seem rather.... self-important.

 

[LuvMyMan]

It's very easy to see how this could be represented as targetting a particular sub-group of a particular ethincity, whether that's fair or not. I believe the contemporary term for that of which they have been accused is "covert racism". My own instinct is that had they really been gonig down that track, they'd have been far more likely to keep the sign in place and howl "racist!" at anyone who objected to it. I'm all for any establishment keeping sports colours out, but really, that dense a dress code for this sort of establishment does seem rather.... self-important.

Right on...Edward....the way that dress code is even written.....not like the place is on the Queens Garden walk, or anything else fancy dancy......Hulk could have stated, braided armpit hair only.....to mimic some sort of "class" in his own mind.....lol!

 

[Stearmen]

This just reminds me, I have never been to, nor will I ever go to a celebrity restaurant!

 

[sheeplady]

As a business owner dealing directly with the public for over 14 years, I can think of many I wish I could have turned away. Some types you just don't want to deal with - based on attitude of course, not race or ethnicity. My business was tattooing. I can say the bar business is no different, having often helped out a friend of mine with his restaurant/bar and serving as doorman on several occasions.

Exactly, there's legitimate reasons and illegitimate ones. I have no problems with a business turning away those who are violent or suspected to be violent, for instance. You do have a right to deny service, you just need to have a good reason to do so.

Then there's other reasons why businesses turn people away. A nightclub near where I live several years ago entertained the entire class of law students (their start of the year party was sponsored by the school). All of the black students were turned away "for violating the dress code" despite white students wearing the same attire, despite having their IDs and being on the list. Needless to say, the class was so outraged that they chose to make suing the nightclub their class project in one of their courses. I think the nightclub must have settled, as I didn't hear anything else about it after hearing about the lawsuit.

Of course, we don't know the *actual* reason they were turned away was actually racist in nature.

Not a good idea to get an entire graduating class of law students angry.

 

[LuvMyMan]

Exactly, there's legitimate reasons and illegitimate ones. I have no problems with a business turning away those who are violent or suspected to be violent, for instance. You do have a right to deny service, you just need to have a good reason to do so.

Then there's other reasons why businesses turn people away. A nightclub near where I live several years ago entertained the entire class of law students (their start of the year party was sponsored by the school). All of the black students were turned away "for violating the dress code" despite white students wearing the same attire, despite having their IDs and being on the list. Needless to say, the class was so outraged that they chose to make suing the nightclub their class project in one of their courses. I think the nightclub must have settled, as I didn't hear anything else about it after hearing about the lawsuit.

Of course, we don't know the *actual* reason they were turned away was actually racist in nature.

Not a good idea to get an entire graduating class of law students angry.

Hello...yes, it is sad to think there are still places that are prejudice all over the USA. I've seen that down in South Carolina....a night club will tell some they cannot enter with out a membership card...the card is being white.

As to the HULK's place...geez, does Hulk Hogan actually inspire the thoughts of Tux & Tails? His only dress code should be you have shoes and socks on....the rest optional....lol! Then you also have to wonder what is really on his menu? Perhaps some food items like...Wrestlemania Weenies.....Busted Nose Burgers....I bet something along this line...and more than likely not a tasty sounding menu at all. My Husband says some day they will have a "Homer Simpson" hambuger house....but for now, we will stick to Denny's.

 

[Guttersnipe]

It's very easy to see how this could be represented as targetting a particular sub-group of a particular ethincity, whether that's fair or not. I believe the contemporary term for that of which they have been accused is "covert racism". My own instinct is that had they really been gonig down that track, they'd have been far more likely to keep the sign in place and howl "racist!" at anyone who objected to it. I'm all for any establishment keeping sports colours out, but really, that dense a dress code for this sort of establishment does seem rather.... self-important.

I think you really hit the nail on the head with this. It seems there are two types of dress codes, those that seek to set the tone by requiring certain items and those that seek to keep "the wrong sort of people" out by prohibiting certain items. In my experience, the former is encountered in top tier places, whereas the latter is seen in places that are anything but "classy."