Despite filing for bankruptcy, Hooters vows to stay open
Hooters, the restaurant chain known for its wings and all-female waitstaff in signature orange uniforms, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Despite the filing, the brand insists it’s not going anywhere.
unbranded – Newsworthy
Restaurant chain Hooters abruptly closed over 30 locations across multiple states June 4.
Hooters said in a statement to USA TODAY that the closed stores were company owned and called the closures a “difficult decision.”
“Hooters will be well-positioned to continue our iconic legacy under a pure franchise business model,” the company said. “We are committed to supporting our impacted team members throughout this process and are incredibly grateful to our valued customers for their loyalty and dedication to the Hooters brand.”
The company did not respond to a follow-up inquiry on a list of closed locations or when employees were notified of the closures.
The company filed for bankruptcy in late March but did not indicate that restaurants would close as a result of the filing.
“Hooters is here to stay, and with a stronger financial foundation and streamlined operations on the other side of this process, we will be well-positioned to continue delivering the guest-obsessed hospitality experience and delicious food our valued customers and communities have come to expect well into the future,” the company wrote on its website.
There are 305 Hooters locations, including 151 owned and operated by the company itself and a separate 154 operated by franchisees. The company has been closing locations suddenly since at least 2024.
Here’s where we know the latest locations have closed so far:
Hooters locations closed
The following locations were confirmed by USA TODAY to be closed, as a prerecorded message announcing the closure was played when the listed phone number was called:
- Sanford, Florida
- Orlando, Florida – Kirkman Road
- Kissimmee, Florida – Osceola Parkway
- Melbourne, Florida
- Atlanta, Georgia – Downtown
- Douglasville, Georgia
- Gwinnett, Georgia
- Valdosta, Georgia
- Greenwood, Indiana
- Rockford, Illinois
- Newport, Kentucky
- Flint, Michigan
- Taylor, Michigan
- St. Louis, Missouri – Downtown
- Charlotte, North Carolina – South Boulevard
- Columbia, South Carolina
- Rock Hill, South Carolina
- Murfreesboro, Tennessee
- Memphis, Tennessee – Downtown
- Nashville, Tennessee – Harding Place
- Grapevine, Texas
- Houston, Texas – 120 FM 1960 W
- San Marcos, Texas
The location page for the Madison, Wisconsin restaurant is no longer available on the Hooters website and a listed phone number rings without answer.
The location page for the Fort Smith, Arkansas restaurant has also been scrubbed from the website, though its phone line plays a welcome message but an attempt to order results in a “call cannot be transferred” message.
The following locations were reported to be closed by members of the USA TODAY Network, local media or through social media posts.
This is a developing story that has been updated with new information.
