Hooters latest to close restaurants as industry struggles due to ‘market conditions’ – Washington Examiner
Hooters, a sports bar chain known for its chicken wings and distinctively attired waitresses, has announced the closure of 40 underperforming locations. Faced with current market pressures, the company has responded to increased competition and a slight reduction in size, ending 2023 with 293 locations, a 1.3% decrease from the previous year. Despite closures, Hooters is actively pursuing growth through new domestic and international restaurant openings, launching frozen products in grocery stores, and expanding into new markets with company-owned and franchised locations. The company, celebrating 41 years in business, expressed its commitment to continued service in various formats globally. A historical reference is made to the original Hooters restaurant in Clearwater, Florida, founded in 1983.
It’s game over for dozens of Hooters sports bars.
The chain, known for its chicken wings and waitresses in skimpy clothing, announced the closure of 40 locations deemed to be underperforming.
“Like many restaurants under pressure from current market conditions, Hooters has made the difficult decision to close a select number of underperforming stores,” a Hooters spokesperson said in a statement.
The move comes as Hooters is facing increased competition from rivals and decreased in size by about 1.3% from last year, ending 2023 with 293 locations. However, the company is finding other ways to stay in business.
“With new Hooters restaurants opening domestically and internationally, new Hooters frozen products launching at grocery stores, and the Hooters footprint expanding into new markets with both company and franchise locations, this brand of 41 years remains highly resilient and relevant,” the spokesperson said. “We look forward to continuing to serve our guests at home, on the go and at our restaurants here in the U.S. and around the globe.”
Some of the confirmed locations closed include South Lakeland, Florida, and Wichita Falls, Texas.
The closures come as several other chains have taken similar steps to close underperforming restaurants, with Rubio’s Coastal Grill announcing it was closing almost 50 California locations earlier this month. Those closures were made after California mandated a $20 minimum wage for “fast-food restaurant employees” under a new law.
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Last month, Red Lobster announced it would close and auction off over 50 restaurants. Among the locations closed were Denver; Orlando, Florida; San Diego and Sacramento, California; Rochester, New York; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Red Lobster clarified shortly after that it was not going out of business, despite filing for bankruptcy. Instead, the chain is seeking to “write a new chapter” with this filing.
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