### Hooters Shutters Dozens of Locations Amid Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Proceedings

In a surprising turn of events, Hooters has abruptly closed numerous restaurants across multiple states, just two months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. This move comes as a stark contrast to the company's earlier assurance that their eateries were "here to stay."

In a statement released on Thursday, a company representative remarked, "After careful consideration of what is needed to best position our company for the future, Hooters made the difficult decision to close certain Company-owned locations, effective June 4, 2025." Despite multiple attempts to get more details, the company has not provided a comprehensive list of the closed locations or confirmed the exact number of affected restaurants. Current estimates suggest that at least 30 Hooters locations spanning 14 states have been shut down.

Customers who attempt to call the now-closed locations are greeted with a prerecorded message indicating that the specific restaurant has "permanently closed." Additionally, these locations have been removed from the Hooters website, further signaling their permanent closure.

This isn't the first time the iconic wing chain, known for its uniquely attired female waitstaff, has faced sudden closures. Similar unannounced shutdowns occurred last June, signaling ongoing struggles within the company. The recent closures follow the company’s March announcement of their Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, which is part of a larger strategy to transfer ownership of company-owned locations to franchisees. The company had also mentioned it would be reassessing its "operational footprint."

The timing and scale of these closures underscore the challenges Hooters faces as it attempts to navigate through bankruptcy and reposition itself for the future.