Restaurants need to evolve over time in order to survive.
That’s something that has been exacerbated by the current challenging operating environment.
“The restaurant industry is at a crossroads, necessitated by changing economic conditions and consumer behaviors. The successful establishments of the future will be those that embrace a balanced approach to revenue and efficiency, utilizing advanced analytics and training to navigate the challenges ahead,” according to FSR Magazine.
It’s a broad trend where restaurant operators need to show a willingness to adapt, Ben Mathews the leader of McKinsey’s restaurants group, shared in the consulting firm’s “The Future of Restaurants” report.
“The restaurants that succeed over the next several years won’t be fixated on short-term price and menu architecture or cost management. They’ll be the ones willing to ask harder questions about who they’re trying to serve, what experience they’re really offering, and which outdated axioms they need to unlearn to get there,” he said.
Having a concept that narrows your appeal and limits your customer base adds another challenge that Hooters, which survived a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, has continued to close restaurants.
Hooters made it out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Original Hooters, a group that included some of the chain’s founders, bought parts of the chain in October 2025. The new owners acquired approximately 140 of the 198 domestic Hooters restaurants, according to a press release.
These domestic restaurants, along with the 60 international locations, represent approximately $700 million in systemwide sales, the new owner shared.
They acknowledged that changes were made and shared that they planned to take the chain back to its roots.
“Restaurant updates have begun to roll out across all locations as a first step in their ‘re-Hooterization’ of the brand and vision for the future,” they explained.
That includes ditching the bikinis and more provocative outfits that had been used under the previous owner.
ALSO READ:Hooters returns after Chapter 11 bankruptcy with 1 big change
“And of course, what has always made Hooters special are the thousands of iconic World Famous Hooters Girls. As part of the change, all server uniforms will return the original look while staying true to the brand’s original beachy vibe and heritage,” the news owners shared.
That, however, has not been a big enough change to reverse the company’s declines, and more locations have closed.
Hooters may need to change its concept
A number of industry analysts and experts think Hooters’ may need to make much larger changes to its brand in order to survive.
“Restaurants can increase their base if they can negate the ‘veto vote.’ Women are the driving force on our everyday eating patterns,” Harry Balzer, chief industry analyst at research firm NPD Group. told CNBC “Traditionally, when you want to appeal to more women, you’re going to bring in issues that have to do with diet. It will be salads, things that are fresher.”
As societal standards have evolved, going back to Hooters’ past may not be the right choice, Lilly Jan, senior lecturer of food and beverage management at the Nolan School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University said in a press release.
“A ‘breastaurant’ does not provide an inclusive environment for dining out in groups, particularly when you consider that families are dining out together more than ever before. Having a concept that does not provide an experience that is compelling or inclusive to a variety of dining groups is inherently limiting,” she said.
She thinks the restaurant will struggle unless it completely overhauls its concept.
“Hooters hasn’t meaningfully reinvented itself and its brand identity over the years to adapt to the times. Places like Buffalo Wild Wings (a more direct competitor) or Olive Garden, Applebee’s, Texas Roadhouse (segment competitors) have cut into Hooters’ market share, often offering more immersive concepts, better value, more variety, or all of the above,” she added.
More Restaurants
- McDonald’s latest menu missteps could have a major domino effect
- 76-year-old comfort food chain closes most of its restaurants
- Fast food giant is coming for Starbucks with fan-approved launch
BrandIndex CEO Ted Marzilli was blunt in his assessment of the chain.
“They developed a niche and by some standard were certainly successful in establishing that niche,” Marzilli told CNBC, but the chain’s focus on sex appeal has some inherent limitations. “There are some women who will say it’s a sexist theme or I dont like what the brand stands for.
Hooters CEO Neil Kiefer remains confident.
“We’re not just acquiring restaurants — we’re taking back the Hooters name to show the world who we really are,” he said , CEO of Hooters Inc. “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.”
Shutterstock
Hooters has been closing locations
While some Hooters are closing because they’re struggling, that’s not the case with the chain’s Boca Raton location, which lost its lease.
“We are a healthy, successful location, and in this economy, the places that close are the opposite,” General Manager Chris Torelli told Fox News Digital.
In addition, The Hooters location in West Palm Beach, Florida has closed. It was shut down with its windows boarded up, and a “for lease” sign, I noticed one recent drive by the location.
The Palm Beach Post verified the closure.
Some other recent Hooters closings include:
- Some markets saw full exit-level closures in 2026, including states (like Connecticut) where remaining units were shut down after years of declining footprint, according to CT Insider.
- A Hooters location in Corpus Christi, Texas closed permanently on April 12, 2026, as part of efforts to “revitalize and strengthen the Original Hooters brand” following its bankruptcy restructuring, reported My San Antonio.
- The Hooters in South Tampa, Florida closed on March 22, 2026 after the company chose not to renew its lease, part of its ongoing post-bankruptcy footprint evaluation, according to the restaurant shared on its Facebook page.
- The last remaining Hooters in Minnesota (Mall of America, Bloomington) closed in March 2026, marking a full exit from the state, according to Bring Me the News.
- A Hooters location in Queens, New York closed in early 2026 as part of a broader wave of restaurant shutdowns tied to rising costs and market pressures, according to Eater NY.
Related: Iconic 99-year-old convenience store chain closing 645 stores
