Shoe shine shop staffed by scantily-clad women

NEW YORK, June 24 (UPI) -- Workers at a New York shoe shine shop staffed by scantily clad females say they don't like being compared to similarly staffed eatery chain Hooters.

Samantha Nazario, 23, one of the shoe-shine girls at Wall Street's Star Shine NYC, located near the New York Stock Exchange, said she does not feel the business objectifies women in the same way that Hooters has been accused of doing, CNNMoney reported Monday.

"I've definitely heard the comparison to Hooters," said Nazario, a self-described feminist. "We're not Hooters. [Star Shine] is well within my comfort zone."

Kevin White, 55, who founded Star Shine in March as a response to the usual "run-down, hole-in-the-wall" shops he saw around the city, said he appeals to men with female employees and flat screen TVs tuned to sports channels.

"The whole business model is based on having females give shoe shines," White said.

He said the women's personalities are more important than their looks.

"The No. 1 priority is for them to be very personable and outgoing," he said.