Despite filing for bankruptcy, Hooters vows to stay open
Hooters, the restaurant chain known for its wings and all-female waitstaff in signature orange uniforms, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Despite the filing, the brand insists it’s not going anywhere.
unbranded – Newsworthy
A little over two months after Hooters of America filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the Tallahassee Hooterslocated at 2000 N. Monroe Street, has abruptly closed its doors after more than a decade of operation.
“”Hi, thank you for calling, this Hooters location is permanently closed,” a female voice said in a recording Wednesday when patrons called the restaurant.
A “Closed” sign posted on the front door also signals the end of its Florida capital city run.
“Please visit us at another one of our Florida locations. Thank you for all your support over the years,” it said.
The local closing of the bar and grill was one of many that occurred around the nation on June 4, which comes on the heels of the March 31 court filing that the company was restructuring as part of a plan to sell its company-owned locations to franchisees.
News accounts point to closures in Detroit, Valdosta, Tuscaloosa, and closer to home in Jacksonville.
“Hooters made the difficult decision to close our Jacksonville Southside location, effective June 4, 2025,” a restaurant spokesperson said in a statement shared withFirst Coast News in Jacksonville. “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.”
Representatives from the local store declined to speak with the Tallahassee Democrat.
Originating in Clearwater, Florida in 1983, Hooters, the brainchild of six businessmen and the largest chain in what the Associated Press dubbed the “breastaurant” genre of restaurantswhich gained rapid popularity for its wings, sandwiches and burgers, but also for advertising attractive waitresses in tight shirts and shorts.
The Tallahassee location’s closure comes as foundational work continues on the neighboring Tallahassee Police Department’s new headquarters, set to anchor the corners of Tharpe Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
The restaurant was once part of the draw to the Northwood Center, Tallahassee’s first indoor mall and home of the city’s first Publix supermarket. In 2019, the city acquired the center as well as a 30-acre lot in a public auction for $6.8 million after it sat nearly idle for years.
That made the city of Tallahassee Hooters’ landlord. A city spokesperson said at the time that Hooters and nearby El Jalisco had multi-year, individual leases and were not within the development footprint of the coming police station.
According to a previous USA TODAY report, Hooters restaurants have closed without warning across the U.S. since 2024.
“Like many restaurants under pressure from current market conditions,Hooters has made the difficult decision to closea select number of underperforming stores,” the Atlanta-based sports bar chain said in a statement toNation’s Restaurant News in June 2024.
Last year the chain closed 40 locations, including four in Florida.
At the end of March 2025, the sports bar and grill chain submitted a bankruptcy filing in Texas after accumulating $376 million in debt.
Kyla A Sanford covers dining and entertainment for the Tallahassee Democrat. New restaurant opening up, special deals, or events coming up? Let me knowatksanford@tallahassee.com.You can also email your suggestions for a future TLH Eats restaurant profile.
