A new Hooters is on the horizon.
The sports bar was recently purchased by franchisees Hooters Inc.—run by the original owners—and Hoot Owls Restaurants. Post-acquisition, the two companies now operate 140 of the chain’s 198 U.S. restaurants. The remaining stores are owned by other operators around the country, giving Hooters a 100 percent franchised footprint. Including 60 international locations, the system generates about $700 million in annual sales.
The goal is to return Hooters to what it was when it first opened in 1983 in Clearwater, Florida, and that’s a bigger focus on families and community. The brand will participate in more local partnerships, sponsorships, and other initiatives that better connect it to surrounding neighborhoods. And, in addition to implementing restaurant upgrades and installing enhanced equipment, the new owners plan to simplify the menu and bring back classic dishes, like the chain’s hand-breaded wing recipe and wing sauces using Grade AA butter, wild-caught fish, fresh-cut salads, and ranch and blue cheese dressings made fresh in the back of house.
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The Hooters Girls will undergo a shift as well, with uniforms returning to the original look “while staying true to the brand’s original beachy vibe and heritage,” according to a news release.
The new owners described it as a “re-Hooterization” of the brand.
“We’re not just acquiring restaurants—we’re taking back the Hooters name to show the world who we really are,” Neil Kiefer, CEO of Hooters Inc., said in a statement. “Our vision is about more than great food and service. It’s about bringing people together, making memories, and ensuring that Hooters remains a place where everyone feels welcome. We’ve done this successfully for over forty years and are beyond excited to rebuild trust one wing, customer, and one family at a time.”
Previous parent company Hooters of America declared bankruptcy at the end of March, listing about $376 million in debt. The brand blamed the court filing on inflationary pressures, rising labor and food costs, and a burdensome capital structure. The company contacted more than 95 potential investors before officially deciding on handing the reins to Hooters Inc. and Hoot Owls Restaurants.
Hooters Inc. oversees over 75 locations in Florida, Chicagoland, Texas, Northern Indiana, and Georgia, and two Hoots Wings (quick-service spinoff) in Chicagoland. Hoot Owl Restaurants, which became a franchisee in 1996, owns more than 60 restaurants, with its original units in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey, and other acquired stores across multiple states.
At the time of bankruptcy, Hooters Inc. and Hoot Owls Restaurants collectively owned 14 of the 30 highest-volume restaurants in the system. Also, in 2024, the franchisees experienced average restaurant revenue that was over double those of company-operated units.
Hooters used to be owned by Nord Bay Capital and TriArtisan Capital Advisors, which bought the chain in 2019. At that time, there were more than 430 locations worldwide.
