Twin Peaks is an American chain of sports bars and restaurants based in Dallas, Texas which has been described as a breastaurant along with similar chains. The chain is known for having its waitresses, primarily young women and typically referred to as "Twin Peaks Girls", dress in revealing uniforms that consist of cleavage- and midriff-revealing red plaid tops, as well as khaki short shorts. At other times, waitresses wear revealing seasonal or themed outfits. Restaurants are decorated in the theme of a wilderness lodge and serve a mix of American, Southwest and Southern cuisines as well as alcohol. The chain's slogan is "Eats. Drinks. Scenic Views." at night
History
Twin Peaks was founded in 2005 by Randy Dewitt and Scott Gordon in Lewisville, Texas. The name itself was inspired by the cult classicTV show of the same name. Dewitt, who had previously helped Brinker International develop Rockfish Seafood, noted a thriving sports-bar market and decided to create a chain with a mountain-lodge motif and attractive servers. According to analysts, 'breastaurant' chains have been growing at a rate of 30—40% per year, while the general restaurant industry as a whole has only grown about 3–5% annually. By August 2013, Twin Peaks had subsequently expanded to 38 locations across 17 states in the United States Most locations are in Texas, with others the American Southwest, Midwest and South. Twin Peaks has a mix of franchised and corporate-owned restaurants. By August 2018, Twin Peaks had 84 locations, 54 franchised, 30 company operated, sales at $322 million with the 85th Twin Peaks being in Toledo, Ohio.
Awards
Twin Peaks won a 2010 Hot Concept award from Nation's Restaurant News.
In 2011, Twin Peaks was named "Franchisee of the Year" by the International Franchise Association at their annual conference in Washington, D.C..
Twin Peaks was named #1 in Knapp Track for comp sales in 2017 among all casual dining brands.
In 2017, Twin Peaks was named a winner in the Enterprise Innovator category at the 2017 MURTEC.
In 2018, Twin Peaks was ranked number 196 on the Franchise Times top 200 list.
Lawsuits
In November 2010, the parent company of Twin Peaks accused Kevin Laughlin, the owner of Grand Tetons LLC DBA Northern Exposure, of trademark infringement. The lawsuit sought to prevent the opening of Northern Exposure's Fayetteville, Arkansas location after one of Twin Peaks' franchisee noticed a billboard similar to Twin Peaks but advertising Northern Exposure. The lawsuit was settled in the spring of 2011, with Kevin Laughlin paying Twin Peaks' legal fees related to the lawsuit. In July 2011, former Hooters executives including CEO and presidentCoby Brooks, CLO Clay Mingus, Joseph Hummel, Jim Tessmer, Roger Gondek, and the business administrator for the late Robert H. Brooks Patti Frederick left Hooters and formed La Cima Restaurants LLC, a Twin Peaks franchisee. Hooters of America then filed suit against La Cima Restaurants and Joseph Hummel alleging Joseph Hummel had electronically sent "more than 500 pages" of Hooters' trade secrets to his private email weeks before he resigned. On May 1, 2012 Atlanta Business Chronicle reported that Hooters has settled the lawsuit against La Cima Restaurants and the ex~vice president of Hooters of America, Joseph Hummel with the terms that La Cima Restaurants and Joseph Hummel return or destroy all stolen documents and not use any information on those documents in a competitive nature. On July 8, 2015, the widow of Jesus Delgado Rodriguez filed a lawsuit against Twin Peaks' parent company for negligence.
On May 17, 2015, a gunfight among rival biker gangs broke out at a Waco, Texas Twin Peaks restaurant. Nine people were killed and eighteen others were taken to the hospital. A police spokesman expressed anger at the management of the local Twin Peaks, which he said had been less than helpful in dealing with gangs in the past. The next day, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission announced a seven-day suspension of the location's liquor license. Hours later, corporate headquarters announced that it was revoking the location's franchise agreement, saying the location's owner had disregarded warnings from both police and corporate officials in the run-up to the shootout. Later that day, corporate headquarters announced the Waco location would not reopen. The same franchisee also owned a Twin Peaks in Harker Heights, near Fort Hood, but it closed at the end of September 2015. On April 2, 2019, all of the remaining criminal cases were dismissed.
