It seems like no one wants to eat (or shop) IRL anymore. From Red Lobster to Joann Fabrics, chain restaurants and stores have been filing for bankruptcy left and right. Hooters, known for its chicken wings (and all-female serving staff), is the latest to fall victim to bankruptcy after rumors of its demise circulated back in February. Cheddar Bay Biscuit lovers breathed a sigh of relief when Red Lobster triumphantly emerged from chapter 11. Will Hooters customers get as lucky?
As of March 31, Hooters announced that it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after closing multiple locations back in 2024. But for fans of those revealing tank tops and hot pants, you can rest assured that all of its restaurants will still remain open. Coinciding with the bankruptcy, Hooters simultaneously announced that a group of current franchise owners is banding together to buy the company-owned chain locations, ensuring that they remain open throughout the bankruptcy process. In fact, according to a press release, "The Company expects to move through this process swiftly, with the goal of emerging from chapter 11 in approximately 90-120 days."
But just because the chain plans to remain open does not mean that you can expect to dine at the same ol' Hooters that's been around for decades. As Bloomberg reports, CEO of HMC Hospitality Group, Neil Kiefer says, "You go to some parts of the country and people say, ‘Oh I could never go to Hooters, my wife would kill me.' That’s depressing to us. We want to change that.” This begs the question, if Hooters is moving away from its ubiquitous tiny uniforms and towards a more family-friendly model, will it have to change its name? I'd certainly think so.
And it seems like the bankruptcy has the public torn. For many people, the announcement is simply a sign of the times and was ultimately inevitable.
"Hooters has been going out of style since I was a kid. Generations of change just kind of made it weird," read one comment on Reddit.
"Honestly, I’m surprised it took this long," another person wrote.
Over on X (formerly Twitter), diners were a little more sympathetic and maybe a tad more dramatic.
"It’s over frens. First they took Blockbuster, then they came for the McDonalds playgrounds and Pizza Hut lunch buffet, and now the orange shorts. We will win this war…but life will never be the same," one user wrote.
"This time, the West has truly fallen," read another comment.
At least one person thinks Hooters could be successful if they'd consider adapting.
"Hooters is filing for bankruptcy because they didn’t adapt to the times. Change it up to a goth girl theme and they’d have wait times like Texas Roadhouse," they advised.
Goth girl aesthetic? We didn't see that one coming. Regardless, we'll have our eyes and ears peeled for how this rebrand takes shape.
