Hooters closures continue as original founders rebuild brand

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 17:38 · Archive

Hooters restaurants are closing across America, including several longtime locations in Florida, after the chain's bankruptcy in March 2025.

Hooters restaurants continue to close across the United States, with several longtime locations shutting down in Florida. The chain closed its last remaining Jacksonville restaurant, which had operated for 40 years, followed by a Panama City Beach location that had run for more than three decades. A Boca Raton restaurant operating for 16 years also closed when its landlord declined to renew the lease.

CEO Neil Kiefer said these closures should be understood in the context of the company's recent restructuring. Hooters of America filed for bankruptcy in March 2025, leading the original founders to regain control of the brand. Kiefer said that Hooters of America had been a separate corporate entity from the original founding team, despite sharing the same name.

Kiefer told Fox News Digital that the company is focused on rebuilding. 'The number of stores will go up and down, but the longevity of our commitment will not,' he said, adding that 'these store closures are not an indication of brand strength.' The original founders, who opened the first Hooters restaurant in Clearwater, Florida in 1983, saw the bankruptcy as an opportunity to reclaim the brand.

How it is being reported

• Hooters restaurants keep closing across US — but CEO says there’s more to the storyHooters restaurants continue to disappear across America — but the iconic chain's CEO insists the closures aren't a sign that the brand is losing its appeal.New York Post · 14 Oct, 17:24
• Hooters restaurants keep closing even as CEO says there's more to the storyHooters CEO Neil Kiefer told Fox News Digital that recent restaurant closures aren't a sign of brand weakness as the original founders rebuild after its 2025 bankruptcy.Fox News · 14 Oct, 11:00

In this story: Hooters · Neil Kiefer · Florida · Jacksonville · Panama City Beach · Boca Raton · Clearwater

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