Business & Tech

Hooters Damage To Be Fixed In Time For Wing Eating Competition

Repairs to damage at the Original Hooters will be complete before Joey Chestnut comes to defend his title at the World Wing-Eating Championship July 25 in Clearwater.

Crews will give the Original Hooters a little nip and tuck this week to repair damage caused by a driver Sunday.

A roughly two-foot hole will be repaired this week, and in time for the 2013 Hooters World Wing-Eating Championship, said Stacy Dillon, a manager at the Clearwater restaurant Tuesday. 

“It will definitely be done before that,” Dillon said. “It should be done immediately.”

A woman left a nearby bar and drove into the Hooters in an apparent suicide attempt early Sunday morning, according to Clearwater Police. 

The woman, Lila Christians, 40, suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital.

The Gulf to Bay Hooters is the original restaurant of the popular chain. The landmark, which opened in 1983, underwent a $1.8 million remodel in 2012.

The wing eating contest is set for July 25. Contestants will vie for $12,500 in prizes including $6,000 for first place.

Contestants are winners of three qualifying events held in Panama City Beach, Augusta, GA, and Farmersville, TX.

Joey Chestnut ate 144 wings in 10 minutes to win the event last year and is expected to defend his title, according to Major League Eating, the governing body of competitive eating.


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