Hooters, the nationwide restaurant chain that features family fare and the “nearly world famous” Hooters girls, is coming to the Cascade Shopping Center.

The idea behind bringing Hooters to the Cascade area is to breathe new life into the Cascade Lanes Casino and Bowling, an anchor at the shopping center for many years, according to Ed Pilarz, managing partner of Rascals Casinos, which bought Cascade Lanes several years ago.

Along with Hooters comes a major remodel of Cascade Lanes, including 24 new lanes in a state-of-the-art bowling alley and renovated cardroom, according to Pilarz.

“We have been trying to figure out a way to save the business and make it better,” he said.

Pilarz said the company is preparing to submit its remodeling plans to the City of Renton. A timeline for the remodeling is yet to be firmed up.

Pilarz said he thinks the Hooters “will fit in really well” with the community. There are more than 400 Hooters restaurants nationwide, many in residential areas, he said, where the atmosphere is fun and entertaining.

He also emphasizes the number of jobs the newly remodeled entertainment center will generate in Renton. “It will create a lot of jobs,” he said.

Rascals Casinos has a long-term lease with the owner of the Cascade Shopping Center, Bruce Anderson.

“I don’t have any opinions right now,” Anderson said of Hooters locating at his shopping center. “They will definitely draw people.”

He’s waiting to see what kind of reaction others have, although so far what he has heard from other tenants is positive.

“I don’t have anything to do with the remodel,” he said. “Whatever they elect to do is up to them, as long as it is a legal use.”

Maybe the remodeled complex will create a “lot of synergism” for the entertainment part of his center, he said.

Anderson has his own long-term plans for the redevelopment of the 16.5-acre shopping center on 116th Avenue Southeast in the newly annexed Cascade area of Renton.

Anderson has permits and financing to remodel the shopping center. That work would include a new boulevard east to west through the center, he said.

Right now, he has offers to prospective tenants to lease space; when the remodel occurs will depend on when the leases are signed. He has at least two offers to major retailers who would lease space in the former QFC building.

“We are in this waiting game,” Anderson said of the leasing agreements, mostly because of the recession.

Pilarz said Anderson has been “very supportive.”

Rascals Casinos owns Hooters on Lake Union in Seattle and in Tacoma. The company also is planning a new combo Hooters and cardroom near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Pilarz said.

“Hooters is an affordable family resturant with an average check and menu that we feel works well for that commercial shopping district,” said Pilarz.

Of course, Hooters, which uses a big-eyed owl in its corporate logo, banks on the big draw of its Hooters Girls, the bulk of its wait staff. According to the Hooters Web site:

“The element of female sex appeal is prevalent in the restaurants, and the company believes the Hooters Girl is as socially acceptable as a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, or a Radio City Rockette.”

About 15,000 of Hooters 25,000 employees nationwide are Hooters Girls, who, according to the Web site, are all-American cheerleaders “who make promotional and charitable appearances in their respective communities.”

The Web site describes the Hooters Girl uniform as consisting of orange shorts and a white tank top, short-sleeve or long-sleeve T-shirt. Pantyhose and bras are required.

Hooters also employs men, too, throughout its restaurants.