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| Economy |
| Hugely popular themed restaurant chain [Hooters] files for bankruptcy... sparking fears of mass closures |
| 2025-04-01 |
| [Daily Mail, where America gets its news] Hooters — known for its scantily-clad waitresses — filed for bankruptcy on Monday night. It is the latest American restaurant chain facing financial problems. But despite the filing, and $376 million of debt, the 42-year-old brand insists it's not going anywhere. The US arm of the chain is restructuring through Chapter 11. As part of the restructuring, Hooters plans to sell more than 100 company-owned restaurants to two franchise groups that currently operate locations in Tampa, Florida, and Chicago. Together, these groups already manage about one-third of the franchised Hooters locations in the US, the company said. Founded in 1983, Hooters became famous for its chicken wings and its servers' uniform of orange shorts and low-cut tank tops. The buyer group is backed by some of Hooters' original founders, and it pledged to take Hooters 'back to its roots.' 'With over 30 years of hands-on experience across the Hooters ecosystem, we have a profound understanding of our customers and what it takes to not only meet, but consistently exceed their expectations,' said Neil Kiefer, a member of the buyer group and the current CEO of the original Hooters´ location in Clearwater, Florida. Hooters said it expects to complete the deal and emerge from bankruptcy in three to four months. It is not clear if any other restaurants will shut. Hooters currently directly owns and operates 151 locations, with another 154 restaurants operated by franchisees, primarily in the United States. Like other struggling chains such as Red Lobster - which filed for bankruptcy in the summer - Hooters is blaming the rising cost of rent and food and customers eating out less. Hooters shuttered around 40 'underperforming' restaurants in June, including locations Florida, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia as it bid to cut costs. A bankruptcy would likely lead to more closures of the 300 remaining locations. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |
| #7 the famous Hooters Sketch from SNL https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/snl-sydney-sweeney-hooters-waitress-sketch |
| Posted by: Lord Garth 2025-04-01 18:33 |
| #6 So sad that they couldn't keep abreast of changing times. [BIG SIGH] Sorry! Somebody was going to write it! |
| Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2025-04-01 17:24 |
| #5 Why is Hooters still in business? When Young women are flaunting themselves openly in stores and the streets already? Besides, the few times I have to take a client out, at their request. I found the Food was not that great. |
| Posted by: NN2N1 2025-04-01 15:08 |
| #4 Putting gross dudes in hot pants was probably not helpful. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2025-04-01 14:42 |
| #3 Reorganizing with troubled competitor Red Lobster to form Hooting Lobsters. |
| Posted by: ed in texas 2025-04-01 11:52 |
| #2 As a mammal, I am strongly in favor of boobs. But there is nothing wrong with a little ham on the menu. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2025-04-01 08:58 |
| #1 Back to its roots? Back to its boobs rather ;-) |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2025-04-01 07:55 |