North Station is known for its sporting events, friendly bars and hurried commuters, but starting today the area has something new to offer visitors.

Hooters.

The national restaurant chain busted out its newest branch last night near the FleetCenter with a sneak peek for VIP's, family members and friends.

The "delightfully tacky, yet unrefined" eatery was decked out in orange and white balloons and streamers for the occasion, which was delayed after a suspicious fire destroyed the building in September.

The establishment also fought opposition from area merchants and picketing from electrical workers over the use of non-union laborers during the construction.

Even with the controversial beginning, manager Fatima Correia said she isn't worried about a negative response from the community once the sports bar-style restaurant is up and running.

"I don't think a lot of people in the area are familiar with what Hooters is about," Correia said. "Once they get the feel for the restaurant, they might have a different feeling about it."

Next door at the Chameleon Bar and Grill last night, three men sat at the bar sipping beers, ignoring the excitement outside.

"I'm the faithful regular," said Mike Sweezey of Boston. "Doesn't interest me at all."

Although the bar was quiet, manager Meredith Hickey wasn't worried about the effect of the new neighbor on business.

"It might hurt a little this week, because it's new, but if anything it's probably going to help business because it will bring people to the neighborhood," Hickey said.

Work crews continued to put final touches on Hooters and health inspectors made a tour of the premises as patrons began lining up early in the evening.

Although the crowd was overwhelmingly male, at least a few women joined the testosterone-driven horde to see what all the hype was about.

"I'd like to be part of the 'in' scene tonight, since I'm not at the Academy Awards," said Judy Lonergan, a mother and grandmother who was first in line.

Longeran was accompanied by her college-age children and a group of their friends, who had their own reasons for attending the Hooters premiere.

"I'm here to look at the ladies," said Jaime Lonergan, a male senior at Bentley College. "I'll be a regular here."

Waitresses appeared to be shrink-wrapped in the tight, white tank tops and high-cut orange shorts that make up the notorious Hooters uniform, but neither mother nor son had any complaints.

"You see a lot worse at the beach," said Jaime. "I don't see what the big deal is."

Mom agreed.

"You see more walking down the street in the summer," she said. "I wouldn't want my daughter to [work here], but it'd be OK for someone else's daughter."

"I bet they all have great personalities," sneered Colleen Hubbard, a senior at Boston College, as she watched the final preparations from outside. "They're probably great girls."

Hubbard said she didn't imagine that she would become a frequent diner at the "family" restaurant.

-- Whitney Myers contributed this report.