The popular yet controversial fast food chain Hooters has just abruptly announced closures of over two dozen restaurants across the United States. The move comes after the chain filed for bankruptcy a few months ago. At the time, the company said it didn't plan on going anywhere, but that seems to have changed.
Hooters hasn't shared the official list of all specific stores being closed, but CNN reports about 30 locations in states like Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
Additionally, the fast-casual company his selling all of its 100 company-owned restaurants to seaparate franchisee groups that operate out of Florida, Chicago, and Tampa. The company previously closed many of its restaurants before filing for bankruptcy last year. Where I love, which is a prominent military family town, there was a long-standing Hooters that finally shuttered about a year or so ago.
It's really not too surprising that Hooters has closed so many of its stores as it seems there has been less interest in the location and other "breastaurants" like it. That term was coined in the 1990s when the first Hooters opened and refers to other restaurants like the Tilted Kilt Pub, and Twin Peaks that require its female waitstaff to wear skimpy attire.
The name of the restaurant itself is a double entendre, referencing a women's breasts and its mascot, the owl. Hooters is infamous for its wait staff, requiring the notorious "Hooters Girls" to wear orange short-shorts and a low-cut white top with the Hooters logo emblazoned across it.
Several Hooters establishments have had lawsuits filed against staff members for alleged sexual harassment and discrimination. If you check out the official restaurant's Wikipedia page, you'll notice the "Controversies" section is pretty lengthy.
OnLabor shared an interesting piece a couple of years ago about the company's troubled history, opening with a charged sentence that, "The path to the perfect Hooters Girl has been paved with discrimination."
The writer notes that while Hooters' focuses primarily on its chicken wings, the branding is focused on its "Hooters Girls." She also references the #MeToo movement, which brought significantly more attention to workplace sexual harassment.
"It’s hard to reconcile the Hooters model with contemporary 2023 values—even the term 'breastaurant' feels outdated if not nauseating," reads the piece.
But regardless of personal opinions about the restaurant, Hooters isn't going away just yet.
Despite the most recent closure announcements, a company spokesperson told CNN that these closings are part of "careful consideration of what is needed to best position our company for the future."
They go on to add that the company is “here to stay, and by optimizing our business in support of our long-term goals, Hooters will be well-positioned to continue our iconic legacy under a pure franchise business model.”