HUNTSVILLE – Huntsville is used to rockets and missiles but a Houston company is dropping a World War II concept sports bar, complete with “pin-up girls,” on the Rocket City.
Houston-based RCI Hospitality Holdings confirmed a development agreement with the Texas-based Bombshells Restaurant & Bar. The agreement calls for the opening of three franchise locations over five years in Alabama with Huntsville being the first. The site of the Huntsville location was not disclosed.
The agreement was signed with a newly formed entity established by hospitality entrepreneur Jerry Westlund of Nashville, who owns 30 nightclubs, bars and restaurants in 12 states, many of them in the South.
“We’re proud to be the first to bring the Bombshells military-themed, restaurant-sports bar concept to Alabama, home to Redstone Arsenal, Fort Rucker, Maxwell Air Force Base, and more than 400,000 men and women who have served our country,” said Westlund. “Bombshells attracts singles, couples, and families, including millennials. With its large, distinctive design, you can’t miss it.”
Bombshells sports bars feature buildings resembling aircraft hangars and an aesthetic reminiscent of 1940s USO clubs. The decor includes reclaimed wood, fighter plane wings, vintage and modern military helmets, booths made with bomber jacket leather, military crate-style wall finishes, columns decorated with .50-caliber shells and other design elements.
The interior and outside patio combined typically total 10,000 to 12,000 square feet. It also features Bombshell Girls, dressed as World War II-era pin-up girls from calendars, posters and “nose art” paintings on military aircraft.
Eric Langan, chairman, president and CEO of RCI Hospitality said this is the first franchise agreement outside of Texas and Huntsville, with its deep military roots, is the perfect city for the first location in Alabama.
“We believe Jerry and Alabama are perfect for Bombshells,” Langan said. “We always wanted our first franchise agreement outside of Texas to be with an operator that has deep industry knowledge and experience and a location that would have deep appreciation for the Bombshells concept.”
David Simmons, RCI Management’s Director of Restaurant Operations, said, “We have spent nine years carefully developing a successful and repeatable concept. Today’s agreement is another major step forward for our brand, company, and every person involved in our march to bring Bombshells to new markets across America.”
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