Hooters Restaurants Keep Closing Even as CEO Says There's More to the Story

Hooters CEO Neil Kiefer told Safir Arjan Digital that recent restaurant closures are not a sign of brand weakness, as the original founders rebuilt the company after its 2025 bankruptcy.

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Hooter's restaurants continue to disappear across America, including several longtime locations in Florida — but the iconic chain's CEO insists the closure isn't a sign of the brand losing appeal.

"The number of stores goes up and down, but the lifetime of our commitment doesn't," Kiefer said. This closing of the stores is not a sign of the strength of the brand."

The disappearance of Hooters restaurants continues as the iconic chain loses longtime locations in its founding state.

The closing comes after a Hooter's in Panama City Beach that had been in business for more than three decades closed in September.

Other longtime locations have also disappeared, including a Hooters in Boca Raton, Fla., which closed earlier this year after 16 years when its owner refused to renew its lease.

But Keefer said the recent closings should be viewed in the context of the company's ownership changes.

"In March 2025, Hooters of America filed for bankruptcy," he said.

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He continued, “Hooters of America was a separate corporate entity from the original Hooters team that first established the brand and its first restaurant in Clearwater, Florida, in 1983.

"While these two groups may share a name, they share nothing else. The original founders saw an opportunity to step in and restore their brand, integrity and heritage. With these acquisitions, we've learned that some stores are at different stages of need."

Kiefer also emphasized that the closings should not be seen as a reflection of the restaurant chain's "beloved staff, community or Orange Shorts sisters."

The restaurant chain is trying to reinvent itself under new ownership — with a renewed emphasis on food, hospitality and attracting families.

The strategy includes opening new restaurants, including a location in The Villages, Fla., in July 2025, while another location in Lutz, near Tampa, is on the way, according to its website.

The Villages restaurant has also attracted attention for its popularity among retirees, showing how the brand is trying to attract a wider clientele.

For now, however, the restaurant chain's shrinking footprint can be seen in parts of its established state.

A Hooters in Boca Raton, Fla., closed earlier this year after a lease was not renewed, leaving a gap between locations along the state's Atlantic coast. (airman)

After Jacksonville and Boca Raton closed, large swathes of the state's Atlantic coast are without a Hooters restaurant.

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Kiefer believes that the company's commitment to its customers and employees remains unchanged.

Instead, we focus our efforts on what has always made us successful: our community, our employees, our food and our unwavering commitment to it all."

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