MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In the past couple of days, a Memphis restaurant, Huey's was scrutinized in a social media post that went viral for not being a good first date option.
The buzz has caught on throughout Bluff City, where two people mention Huey's in a discussion about restaurants as a first date location.
Memphis resident Vallarie Webber said she firmly disagrees with the social media post. She said she has dined at Huey's many times and enjoys the food and adult beverages.
"People are now expecting to go to Ruth's Chris on the first date, all of these expensive restaurants, when, if I'm just getting to know you, we're gonna do something that's affordable," Webber said.
Zach Holloway, another Memphis resident, said he do has enjoyed his experience at Huey's. He said there are other places in Memphis he would consider as a place to take someone on a first date.
"I like Aldo's Pizza, I like Rock n Dough Pizza. I think those are good, decent first dates spots," Holloway said.
James Beckley and his girlfriend Destiny Crump agree with the social media post. Crump said she has several reasons why Huey's would not be her ideal of a first date place to go.
"It's super loud, you can't get an intimate conversation, it's a bar," Crump said.
Beckley said the restaurant he and Crump went to on their first date is no longer open. He believes the times have changed regarding where a nice place for a first date would be.
"I remember days [when] you [could] take somebody to Red Lobster, and it just seemed like a five-star restaurant back then, so now, they putting so much pressure on these younger guys; it's just pressure on a man," Beckley said.
Crump said she believes how much someone spends on the first date is not the priority. She said the thought someone puts into the date should be what is important.
"The more creative the first date, the better it is. I don't really think it's about the location, I think it's about what is being thought out, is the guy listening to me, what I like, what I don't like," Crump said.
Huey's restaurants owner Alex Boggs said the team is flattered by the attention on social media.
He said their marketing team took advantage of the moment by entering into the discussion in their own social media response within 24 hours.
"We've got two of our regular employees that are actually in a relationship themselves sitting at the bar, canoodling up there, pretending they're having their first date as well," Boggs said.
Boggs said the Huey's team believes they are a great location for a first date. He said they also wanted to respond in a way that would be light-hearted.
"Staying with the times, trying to make sure we're keeping up to date with everything on social media, and we wanted to play along and make sure we were part of the game," he said.
Boggs said he's appreciating the support from the community and cannot wait to see if more people will chime in on social media.