Hulk Hogan's new restaurant/reality show

[insane]

Having personally seen Hulk Hogan getting in and out of limousines multiple times on Dale Mabry Highway, take this writer's word that the Hulkster is as much of a Tampa mainstay as strip clubs and Busch Gardens.

Now, the sort-of-retired professional wrestler is opening a restaurant on Florida's Gulf Coast.

The 20,000-square-foot, waterfront "Hogan's Beach" is set to open New Year's Eve on the Courtney Campbell Causeway.

"It's going to be Jimmy Buffet's [Margaritaville] times 10; Hooters times 10," Hogan told the Tampa Bay Times. "It's a logical extension of the Hogan brand, with my image and likeness.

"In 36 years I've become so tangible to the public, and not just Americans. We have a chance to have an international draw."

This isn't Hulk's first foray into the restaurant business, having once owned a short-lived joint called "Pasta Mania" in Minnesota's Mall of America.

The new restaurant will have a "mechanical shark ride," which sounds like a mechanical bull, but you know, a shark.

To go along with the beach theme, there's volleyball courts, fire pits, tiki huts and cabanas.

Asked by the Times about his role with the restaurant, Hogan cited his fictional managerial experience.

"I see myself almost like a general manager, creatively," Hogan said. "I play a fake general manager on Impact Wrestling. But this is for real."

And naturally, Hulk wants to turn his new restaurant into another reality show with his family having already been featured on VH1's Hogan Knows Best from 2005-2007.

"I just went out to Los Angeles to pitch Hogan's Beach," Hogan told the Times. "CMT is very interested. It would be like a controlled sound stage, with the pool, bar, volleyball and live music."

What was his pitch for the show?

"It's Baywatch, Muscle Beach and Cheers all in one."