Melody Morales is suing the Hawaiian Tropic Zone restaurant and bar in Times Square, New York for discrimination. Morales, who has experience as a server at Hooters, alleges that she was denied a job because of her accent. She alleges that managers said that she did not "speak white" and had a "Latin accent." NY Post: Too 'ghetto' for Tropic Zone (January 27, 2009)
Hawaiian Tropic Zone
Hawaiian Tropic Zone has locations, in Las Vegas, Nevada, and New York City.Hawaiian Tropic Zone: Home pageThe restaurant is staffed with waitresses who wear hot pink bikinis. Many of the waitresses at the restaurant were finalists or winners in contests sponsored by Hawaiian Tropic.Gothamist: Hawaiian Tropic Zone Dorm (October 22, 2006)
2008 Hawaiian Tropic Zone Lawsuit
The Hawaiian Tropic Zone is also being sued by some of its waitresses.The waitresses alleged that a manager there sexually harassed and assaulted staffers, and that the company tried to bribe employees not to sue. The lawsuit, seeking $600 million in damages, was filed in October, 2008.NY Post: Too 'ghetto' for Tropic Zone (January 27, 2009)