Redneck Heaven
{{Short description|Sports bar and restaurant chain in the United States}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Redneck Heaven
| logo = File:Redneck Heaven Logo 400x400.jpg
| type = Private
| foundation =
| location =
| locations = 4 (at peak)
| key_people =
| area_served = Texas
| industry = Restaurant
| products =
| services = Food and beverage
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| num_employees =
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| slogan =
| homepage = [https://web.archive.org/web/20170926065453/http://redneckheaven.com/ http://redneckheaven.com/] (archived)
| dissolved =
| footnotes =
}}
Redneck Heaven was a chain of sports bars and restaurants based in Lewisville, Texas, and with locations in several other Texas cities. The chain was known for its controversial promotions, Southern theme and scantily-clad waitresses. It was the subject of an MTV reality show and it was frequently categorized as a breastaurant.
History and concept
File:Waitress from Redneck Heaven.jpg
Opening in 2008{{cite web |url=http://redneckheaven.com/about-us/ |title=About us |author= |website=Redneck Heaven |access-date=August 14, 2018 }} in Lewisville, Texas,{{cite web |url=http://www.redneckheaven.com/location.html |title=Redneck Heaven Map |author= |website=Redneck Heaven |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026080901/http://www.redneckheaven.com:80/location.html |archive-date=October 26, 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=August 14, 2018 }} Redneck Heaven marketed itself as a rowdier, more sexually provocative version of the typical breastaurant like Hooters, Tilted Kilt, or Twin Peaks.{{cite news |last=Southwell |first=Steve |date=October 15, 2011 |title=Lewisville Council to Consider Cleavage Ban, S.O.B.s |url=http://archive.lewisvilletexan.com/xoops/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2451 |work=The Lewisville Texan Journal |access-date=August 14, 2018 }} Restaurants featured Southern and Redneck-themed interior elements such as car doors from the General Lee (from The Dukes of Hazzard) and other automotive and sports memorabilia.{{cite news |last=Steward |first=Steve |date=October 26, 2011 |title=Redneck Heaven, Garlic Bread Hell |url=https://www.fwweekly.com/2011/10/26/redneck-heaven-garlic-bread-hell/ |work=Fort Worth Weekly |access-date=August 14, 2018 }} They also featured scantily clad servers who engaged in what the chain termed as "mischief" (including line dancing, hula hooping and spanking).{{cite news |last=Blount |first=Chuck |date=August 10, 2018 |title=Lingerie, body paint, live-fish shots. It's Redneck Heaven, opening in S.A. |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/food/restaurants/article/Redneck-Heaven-promises-free-spankings-booze-11748582.php |work=San Antonio Express-News |access-date=August 14, 2018 }}{{cite news |last=Stephen |first=Paul |date=September 11, 2017 |title=Review: San Antonio's Redneck Heaven surprisingly tame, not surprisingly bad |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/food/restaurants/article/Review-San-Antonio-s-Redneck-Heaven-12184029.php#item-85307-tbla-63 |work=San Antonio Express-News |access-date=August 14, 2018 }}
The typical uniform consisted of skimpy cut-off shorts (resembling those of Dukes of Hazzard character Daisy Duke) with crop tops, bikini tops or bras.{{cite news |last=Kuperinsky |first=Amy |date=October 9, 2013 |title=In 'Big Tips Texas,' MTV messes with minnows, weaves and booty shorts |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2013/10/big_tips_texas_mtv_premiere_recap.html |work=NJ.com |access-date=August 15, 2018 }} Redneck Heaven had many special events, however, where the typical attire was bikinis, lingerie or other themes. The chain also held "Anything But Clothes" events where servers wore only panties and body paint.{{cite news |author= |title=Redneck Heaven Restaurant In Trouble Over 'Nudity' Claim |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/16/redneck-heaven-restaurant_n_3605252.html |work=HuffPost |date=July 16, 2016 |access-date=August 14, 2018 }} Some reviewers characterized Redneck Heaven as bridging the gap between tamer breastaurants and strip clubs,{{cite news |last=Lensch |first=Teresa |date=August 26, 2014 |title=A Woman's View of Redneck Heaven |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/restaurants/a-womans-view-of-redneck-heaven-7025515 |work=Dallas Observer |access-date=August 14, 2018 }} though the owner said the experience had become less extreme since the early days of the restaurant. The Dallas Observer listed it as being one of the best bars in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.{{cite news |last=Falcon |first=Jaime-Paul |date=July 21, 2015 |title=The 10 Best Bars in the Dallas-Fort Worth Suburbs |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/the-10-best-bars-in-the-dallas-fort-worth-suburbs-7418290 |work=Dallas Observer |access-date=November 5, 2018 }}
''Big Tips Texas''
During 2013, MTV ran a reality television series called Big Tips Texas.{{cite news |last=Marechal |first=AJ |date=November 4, 2013 |title=MTV Reality Shows: The Quietest Ones Now Speak The Loudest |url=https://variety.com/2013/tv/news/mtv-reality-shows-the-quietest-ones-now-speak-the-loudest-1200781907/ |work=Variety |access-date=August 14, 2018 }} The show followed a number of Redneck Heaven waitresses from the Lewisville, Texas location and ran for 14 episodes (one season).{{cite news |last=Winkler |first=Jeff |date=October 9, 2013 |title=Meet the King of the Breastaurantâ„¢ Empire |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/food/meet-the-king-of-the-breastaurant-empire/ |work=Texas Monthly |access-date=August 14, 2018 }}
Controversial promotions
=Anything But Clothes=
Redneck Heaven ran periodic "Anything But Clothes" events where waitresses were topless except for body paint covering their breasts.{{cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Kelsey |date=October 1, 2017 |title='Anything But Clothes' party marked grand opening of San Antonio's Redneck Heaven |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/food/restaurants/article/Anything-But-Clothes-party-SA-Redneck-Heaven-12241020.php |work=San Antonio Express-News |access-date=August 14, 2018 }} In response to this, at least three different municipalities{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}} in Texas changed their laws about what constitutes nudity, preventing body paint from being considered an "opaque covering".{{cite news |last=Nicholson |first=Eric |date=November 12, 2013 |title=Cedar Hill is Terrified of Redneck Heaven's Painted Breasts |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/cedar-hill-is-terrified-of-redneck-heavens-painted-breasts-7133640 |work=Dallas Observer |access-date=August 14, 2018 }} Classifying the waitresses as partially nude would have required that Redneck Heaven be regulated as a sexually oriented business.{{cite news |last=Southwell |first=Steve |date=July 14, 2013 |title=Council to Consider Ordinance Change Again After Redneck Heaven Uses Body Paint to Circumvent Nudity Rule |url=http://archive.lewisvilletexan.com/xoops/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3254 |work=The Lewisville Texan Journal |access-date=August 14, 2018 }}
=Minnow Bombs=
In addition to the regular menu, Redneck Heaven featured two unusual items which could be considered food challenges. One was a burger weighing {{convert|3|lb|g}} called the "Bubba's 'Tower in an Hour' Burger Challenge". The other, more controversial, item was a drink called the "Minnow Bomb". This drink consisted of a shot of liquor containing a live minnow. This item drew protests from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA) who argued that it was both unsafe and inhumane to consume these live fish.{{cite news |last=Sinpetru |first=Laura |date=September 9, 2013 |title=Bar in Texas Serves Live Fish Shots, PETA Wants It to Stop |url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/Bar-in-Texas-Serves-Live-Fish-Shots-PETA-Wants-It-to-Stop-381466.shtml |work=Softpedia News |access-date=August 14, 2018 }}