Hooters can go bankrupt. Which Florida locations have been closed?

Hooters reportedly prepares to file for bankruptcy in the coming months to restructure its debt. Restaurant chains have struggled in recent years due to the pandemic, rising food costs and changing consumer preferences.

Is this the end for Hooters, a cheeky, global American dining restaurant that started in Florida?

According to Bloomberg, the popular sports barrestrange chain is reportedly preparing to file for bankruptcy in order to restructure its debt for the next few months. That doesn’t mean that a company struggling is under, but if successful it could mean change management and further reductions in location.

Although Hooters has not officially commented, the chain has spent several rocky years due to the loss of walk-in traffic and rising food costs during the pandemic. Last year, Hooters closed at least 40 locations nationwide, including four in Florida. One of them was Lakeland, the second Hooters ever opened by locals in 1984.

“Like many restaurants under pressure from current market conditions, Hooters has made the difficult decision to close a selected number of unperforming stores,” said Atlanta-based. The sports bar chain that housed the company said at the time in a statement to the country’s restaurant news.

Over 40 years since opening its first in Clearwater, Hooters has more than 320 hooters in 25 countries and 251 in the US, but the chain’s “US” page still has 29 countries 420 are listed.

Several Hooters locations, including South Florida’s 11, are run by LTP Management, a franchisee for Hooters of America, said in 2024. “It shows two new locations to open in Florida this summer.

Florida is home to 44 Hooters more than any other state. Texas is closest to 39.

Big Lot, Family Dollars, Red Lobster: Which retailers, restaurant chains that closed their locations in Florida in 2024?

What is Hooters?

A new hooter has opened in Wichita Falls

Hooters has opened one of the world-renowned restaurants in Wichita Falls.

Thorin Halsey, Wichita Falls Times Record News

The first Hooters opened in Clearwater in 1983. In 1983, “six businessmen who had no experience in restaurants came together to open up a place where they could not be kicked out,” according to Company Lore. At its height, it was the largest chain of the restaurant “brestaurant” genre, promoting attractive waitresses in tight shirts and shorts.

“Hooters Girls” wears the “Hoo” logo, short orange shorts and a white tank top with a tanned pantyhose, and is called “The Look of the,” an older version of “issued by a smoking gun). American cheerleaders, surfers and girls next door reflecting things. ”

Hooters is famous for its wings, sandwiches, burgers, seafood, beer, the annual Hooters Girls Calendar and Miss Hooters Pageant. In the past, the chain had more than 430 locations around the world, including casino hotels in Las Vegas, television shows, and even airlines called “Hooters Air.”

The company has long supported local charities, marathons and local services, but has sponsored NASCAR drivers for many years. But longtime partner Hendrick Motorsports dropped them last year, saying the restaurant chain “had been unable to fulfill its business obligations.” The Hooters logo was decorated with Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet.

Hooters is also well known for passing multiple lawsuits over discriminatory employment practices and long lists of owners. Most recently, in 2019 Hooters was sold to Nord Bay Capital and Triartisan Capital Advisors.

Which Hooters locations have been closed in Florida?

The Hooters closed four locations in Florida last year:

Where is Hooters in Florida still open?

Beach Place, Beach Place, 17 S Atlantic Boulevard Suite 304, Fort Lauderdale Boca Raton, 2240 NW 19th St Suite 1101-Abradenton, 4908 14th St Wbrandon, 10023 E Adamo Drcape Coral, 3120 Del Prado Blvd Sclearwater, 2800 Bay Blvd ( Original, 381 Mandalay Avecoral Way, 3301 SW 22nd St Unit 104, Miamidaytona Beach, 2100 W International Speedway Blvddestin, 15015 Emerald Coast Pkwydoral, 8695 NW 13th Terrace, Miamift. Lauderdale – Cypress Creek, 6345 N Andrews Abate Myers, 4411 Cleveland Abate Myers Beach, 4411 Cleveland Abehialea, 680 W 49th Stjacksonville San Jose, 8938 San Jose Blvdjacksonville Southside, 4521 Southsism Blvdkissimmeea West, 8207 Wirlo Bronson Memorial Hwylake Buena Vista, 8510 Palm Pkwy, Orlandolakeland II, 3400 US Hwy 98 Nmadiera Beach, 192 Johns Pass, Boardwourne, 877 S Babcock Stmelbourne West, 695 Palm Bay Rd Nenaples, 362555 SW 27th Aveodessa, 16070 State Rd 54orlando Airport, 7222 Augusta National Drorlando I Drive, 8801 International Drorlando Kirkman, 5300 FL-435Panama City Beach, 12709 Front Beach Rdpembroke Pines, 7990 Pines Blvdpertala Beach, 400 QuietWater Rdport Rdport Rdport Praillotte Richey, 5336 Treadway Drsanford, 550 Towne Center Cirsarasota, 6507 S Tamiami Trailspring Hill, 3437 Commercial Wayst. Petersburg, 4125 4th St Nsunrise, 3805 N University Drallahassee, 2000 N Monroe Sttampa, 4215 W. Hillsborough Avetampa North, 13606 Bruce B Downs Blvddth Tampa, 4420 West Gandy Blvdd

Why did Hooters close the place? Is Hooters gone out of business?

Like many other restaurant chains, including Red Lobster, Tijuana Flat, Burger King, Appleby, Cracker Barrel, Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, Italian Grill in Caraba, and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Hooters has been hit during the pandemic and has suffered from recent rise in food costs.

During the pandemic, Hooters pivoted to remove sales. In 2021, Sal Mellilli, CEO of the Hooter of America (HOA) brand, told Business Insider that To-Go Sales had risen from the previous pandemic of 20%, and the company was highlighting a rapid chainfoot. Ta.

Hooters is expanding in other ways. The company’s original founder retained the rights of five Florida counties, and last year three new Hooters came to the villages in Central Florida, with three more openings in Las Vegas, according to a press release. did. Their website lists two openings this summer, at 700 Christine Way in the village and 25245 Wesley Chapel Blvd in Lutz.

Meet Hooters Swimsuit Calendar Girls in Southwest Florida

The Hooters swimsuit calendar just came out, and three Hooters employees from southwest Florida appear. That includes Miss May: Angela Porter.

Charles runnells, crunnells@news-press.com

“The brand will be opened domestically and internationally, as new Hooters Frozen products to be launched in grocery stores, and the Franta footprint expands into new markets at both the company and franchise locations. The 41 year brand is extremely resilient and relevant,” a representative for Hooters said. Palm Beach Post. “We look forward to continuing to serve our guests from home, on the go and in our restaurants across the US and around the world.”

Contributed by Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune/USA Today Network-Florida