Tilted Kilt taking former Jillian's restaurant space

September 9, 2011
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Tilted Kilt IndianapolisTilted Kilt, a chain of Irish sports pubs known for its scantily clad, kilt-wearing waitresses, has closed on a deal to take over the first-floor space at the northeast corner of Meridian and Georgia streets. The restaurant and sports bar is taking the 7,500-square-foot space, while former tenant Jillian's continues to operate an arcade and bowling alley on the building's second and third floors. The restaurant, which will feature more than 50 TVs and 40 draft beers, is slated to open at the beginning of December, said Ryan Murphy, a principal who also owns Tilted Kilt locations in Michigan and Illinois. A "casting call" for Tilted Kilt servers is planned for October, he said. The chain's "beautiful servers" wear a uniform of "knee-high socks and short, sexy plaid kilts with matching plaid bras under white camp shirts tantalizingly tied to show off the midriff," according to the Tilted Kilt website. The chain, based in Tempe, Ariz., opened its first location in 2003 in Las Vegas. Tilted Kilt now has locations in 19 states, including in Fort Wayne and South Bend. The restaurants serve sports bar staples including burgers, wings, wraps, pizzas and pastas.

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  • Disgusted
    JoeSeptember 9, 2011 10:42 AM
    There was a time in my life when I would simply laugh at the absurdity of that description of the wait staff. But as the father of a young daughter, it now just leaves me disgusted.
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    • Servers
      StaceySeptember 9, 2011 10:46 AM
      Seems there should be more description about the food and ambience than the wait staff wardrobe. I don't know if an "Irish Hooters" is a place I will visit as I find it degrading and demeaming even if both male and female servers wear the same uniforms.
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    • Not so bad
      MaximillianSeptember 9, 2011 11:25 AM
      I've seen Tilted Kilts elsewhere, and they become popular fairly quickly among the younger crowd. Realistically, they know their target market, and appeal to its interests. I see no harm here. And no one is forcing young women to work here. They take the job knowing perfectly well the uniform required. The truth is that attractive, scantily-clad women are well-tipped.
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    • I'm with Joe
      JenniferSeptember 9, 2011 11:39 AM
      I'm sick of this crap. I wouldn't want my daughter to work there and for a reason. She's more than just her looks.
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    • Smells
      MikeSeptember 9, 2011 12:00 PM
      Wondering if Lincoln Plowman was involved in this deal.
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      • Sheesh lighten up folks
        WhateverSeptember 9, 2011 1:30 PM
        As Max says, nobody is forcing them to work there... Don't like it? Don't go. Is anybody slamming your Polyanna world where you live a perfect and pristine life? Relax, it'll all be ok, there's room for everyone (and far bigger issues to worry about today).
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      • Overbearing
        AdamSeptember 9, 2011 1:50 PM
        You know, you don't have to go. I like beer, I like hot girls, and I have daughters. If they want to work there and make good tips, more power to them. It's not a strip club, it's a bar! And the Plowman comment is really spot on.
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      • Calm down
        AshleySeptember 9, 2011 1:58 PM
        I would think more people would be concerned with a chain as opposed to the uniform. I would prefer a local bar, but I understand that isn't always possible with an expensive locale. However, everyone knows that they will be required to wear this uniform. That is YOUR choice. Everyone needs to calm down. You don't have to support the place, but you don't need to get on your moral high ground either. People will tip better and that is just life.
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      • Not digging the logo
        PaulSeptember 9, 2011 2:48 PM
        I hope they look better than the logo. I keep seeing that and thinking "Medusa".
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      • "disgusted"
        JoePSeptember 9, 2011 3:23 PM
        This is so "wrong"...please, give me a break. It is really "disgusting" to see young people work hard and use their looks to generate some income (like that's never been tried before). It's more disgusting to see a young person inherit bunch of money and not have to do an honest day of work in her life.
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      • very professional franchise
        DistinctAVSeptember 9, 2011 4:56 PM
        I did the Audio/Video control systems for 4 TK stores and was there during their startup. It's a VERY well run franchise. The staff gets extensive training on how to behave professionally, deal with harassment (not tolerated), etc. It's more like a Disney business. FYI, the barbacks and bartenders (usually guys) wear tight black shirts and kilts and I've heard several women patrons comment "that's hot". Great food, professional staff, certainly lots of eye candy if you can take your eyes off the video systems they typically install. Great to see a TK here in Indy.
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      • No big deal
        MikeSeptember 9, 2011 8:50 PM
        I've been to the Tilted Skirt in Fort Wayne with my wife and in-laws.

        Not trashy. More tasteful than Hooters with better beer and food.
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      • Bring on the Kilts
        Irish LoverSeptember 10, 2011 7:12 AM
        If it was a Show-Mes restaurant and Mike Speedy and his buddy Mike Murphy had a say in it, it would never be downtown or on Southport Road for that matter. Bible thumpers took care of that one.
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      • Spare me...
        T.J.September 11, 2011 5:27 AM
        I find it laughable that people here are upset about a place like this. This is a society where some young Hollywood starlet could win some award for a movie in which she has a nude/sex scene. Some people who support this then turn their nose at places like Hooters or Tilted Kilt. So young daughters grow up seeing some females get rewarded for showing it all and we wonder why places like this exist?

        The fact is, the tips at these places are usually pretty good. It is about sex, regardless of what anyone says. It is about the turn on via showing just enough cleavage to get stupid guys to tip an above normal amount. The ultimate goal is no different than being a stripper.

        What do we expect our young daughters to do though? At a time when college costs are skyrocketing because we have to pay state funded higher ed CEOs the same as private company CEOs, it is no wonder that college girls with looks flock to these sorts of high paying jobs.
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        • Feigning Disgust
          RyanSeptember 12, 2011 11:04 AM
          Showing full public disgust for a concept like this is always something that makes me wonder. Are they really that upset, or do they say these things outloud to make themselves feel like they have some kind of moral superiority.

          If its not your cup of tea, by all means, don't go and don't take your friends there. At least the space isn't going to remain vacant.
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          • Well Said...
            AndrewSeptember 27, 2011 2:59 PM
            At a time when there are so many financial unknowings across the globe, we should be happy that new jobs are being created in Indiana. There are more jobs than "pretty server" positions available when a new restaurant opens.
            -Jobs
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          • 100% agree
            MiyunnOctober 1, 2011 5:42 PM
            I work at tilted kilt in San Diego CA and this comment is dead on!!!!
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          • AMERICA
            TaylorOctober 22, 2011 11:14 AM
            People, no one is asking your daughter to work here. No one is asking your sister to work here. However, there are plenty of women in Indianapolis right now that would love to make a great hourly rate, while serving. Some people are more comfortable with their bodies, more confident, and less worried about the things that you may be worried about. This is a free country, no one is forcing anyone that you know to work there, they are offering positions, and I guarantee you that this place will be busy all of the time, whether you are involved or not.
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          • Terrible service
            MikeDecember 21, 2011 6:43 PM
            The food makes hooters sound appetizing (saying something). The service is terrible unless you just want something to look at, because that's the ONLY thing they do well. They actually had the gall to kick me out after they gave my debit card away to the wrong person. Had that person cleaned out my account, I would have slapped em hard with a nasty lawsuit. Ridiculous.
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          • huh?u
            meFebruary 1, 2012 8:16 PM
            So she's ugly then?
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