The familiar orange and white Hooters signs are becoming harder to find across America. More than 40 locations have shut their doors recently, leaving many customers wondering what happened to their favorite wing spot. Since 2018, this 41-year-old restaurant chain has closed dozens of locations, dropping from 333 restaurants to just 293 by the end of 2023.
Wings and drinks cost way more than before
Customers are finding their favorite wings and beer combos cost significantly more these days. Many regulars have noticed that prices keep climbing while portion sizes stay the same. What used to be an affordable night out watching sports with friends has become an expensive treat.
The price increases hit hardest on popular items like wings, which now cost notably more than they did just a few years ago. Regular customers who used to stop by weekly for wing specials are cutting back their visits, finding the new prices hard to swallow. Some have switched to buying wings from grocery stores or ordering from cheaper spots.
Many sports fans who made Hooters their regular game-day spot now think twice before heading out. The higher prices mean a typical evening of wings, drinks, and watching the game can cost substantially more than it did before. Some customers report spending nearly twice what they used to for the same order.
Weekend crowds have thinned out as people look for more budget-friendly options. The days when friends could split a big order of wings without breaking the bank seem to be fading. Many customers now save Hooters visits for special occasions rather than regular outings.
More places to get good wings than ever
Finding tasty wings isn’t hard anymore. Places like Wingstop and Buffalo Wild Wings have opened everywhere, often with more sauce options and easier ordering through apps. Many customers prefer these newer spots that offer similar food with modern conveniences.
Sports bars and restaurants everywhere now serve quality wings, often with creative flavors Hooters doesn’t offer. Many of these places have better TV setups for watching games, more comfortable seating, and faster service. Some even have rewards programs that give regular customers free food and special deals.
Getting wings delivered has also become incredibly easy. Many restaurants focus just on delivery and takeout, often at lower prices since they don’t need big dining rooms. These spots frequently offer better deals and faster service than traditional restaurants.
Even grocery stores now sell ready-to-eat wings that rival restaurant quality. Many shoppers find these a better value, especially when feeding a group during game days or parties. The quality has improved so much that some people can’t tell the difference between store-bought and restaurant wings.
People spend less on eating out
Money’s tighter for many people these days, and eating out is often the first thing to cut back on. Recent surveys show that almost half of Americans plan to spend less at restaurants, affecting places like Hooters that rely on regular customers.
More people cook at home now, saving restaurant visits for special occasions. The habit of grabbing wings and drinks while watching games has shifted as many sports fans prefer hosting friends at home where they can control costs and have more comfortable seating.
Lunch crowds have shrunk as workers choose faster, cheaper options or bring food from home. The traditional long lunch at Hooters has become less common as people watch their spending and time more carefully during the workday.
Streaming services have changed how people watch sports too. Instead of heading to a sports bar, many fans now prefer watching games on their own big screens at home where the food and drinks cost less and the seating’s more comfortable.
Locations keep closing across the country
Hooters has shut down restaurants in many states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. These closures often happen suddenly, leaving regular customers surprised to find their local spot locked up.
Many closed locations were in areas with lots of other restaurants nearby. With so many choices for wings and sports watching, some Hooters couldn’t attract enough customers to stay open. This has left many neighborhoods without their longtime wing spot.
The closures hit suburban areas particularly hard, where Hooters had been a standby for years. Some customers now drive much further to reach the nearest location, while others have switched to closer alternatives for their wing fixes.
Each closure means fewer options for sports fans looking for a place to watch games. While new sports bars often open nearby, longtime customers miss the familiar atmosphere and staff they got to know over years of visits.
Delivery changes how people order wings
Food delivery apps have changed how people get their wing fix. While Hooters offers delivery, many customers find ordering through apps expensive compared to pickup or dining in. Extra fees and delivery charges can add significantly to the already higher menu prices.
Wings don’t always travel well, arriving less crispy than when eaten fresh at the restaurant. Some customers report soggy wings and cold fries when ordering delivery, making the high prices harder to justify. The signature Hooters experience doesn’t translate well through delivery apps.
Many people skip drinks when ordering delivery, missing out on the full sports bar experience. Beer and cocktails typically make watching the game more fun, but delivery orders focus mainly on food, changing the traditional Hooters experience.
Delivery wait times can be longer than at newer wing spots that focus on takeout and delivery. Places designed specifically for to-go orders often get food to customers faster and at better prices.
Past mistakes cost them money
Previous attempts to expand beyond restaurants didn’t work out well. Remember Hooters Air? The airline stopped flying after losing money. The Hooters Casino Hotel in Las Vegas also closed, showing that wings and gaming don’t always mix well.
These failed projects took money that could have gone into improving existing restaurants or creating new menu items. Instead of updating old locations or trying new food options, money went to these unsuccessful ventures that customers never asked for.
The money lost on these projects made it harder for Hooters to keep up with newer restaurants. While competitors upgraded their spaces and menus, many Hooters locations kept the same look and food options they’d had for years.
These expensive mistakes seem to make Hooters more careful about trying new things now. While this might prevent more losses, it also means they’re slower to adapt to what current customers want.
Menu stays the same while tastes change
While other restaurants constantly add new items and flavors, Hooters sticks mostly to its classic menu. The same wings and sauces that worked years ago might not excite customers looking for new tastes and options.
Groups find it harder to choose Hooters when some friends want different food options. Other restaurants offer more choices, including meat-free alternatives and lighter meals. This limited menu makes Hooters a tough pick when not everyone wants traditional bar food.
The focus on basic bar food like wings and burgers feels limited compared to other places. Many customers now want more variety in their meals, even when watching sports or hanging out with friends. The same old menu makes regular visits less interesting.
New items rarely appear on the menu, and when they do, they often stick close to the usual bar food options. This makes it hard for Hooters to attract customers looking for something different or more interesting than standard wings and fries.
Restaurant look needs updating
Many Hooters restaurants look just like they did years ago, while other places have modern, comfortable designs. The old-school sports bar setup can feel dated compared to newer spots with better seating and bigger TV screens.
The viewing experience for sports often falls short of what fans expect today. Modern sports bars have massive screens, crystal-clear pictures, and better sound systems. Some Hooters locations still use older TVs and dated sound equipment.
Years of use show in many locations, with worn-out booths and tired decorations needing replacement. Customers notice these details, especially when newer restaurants in the area offer fresher, more appealing spaces.
The older look might bring back memories for longtime customers, but it doesn’t attract new ones used to more modern restaurants. The worn appearance makes it harder to justify the higher prices Hooters now charges.
Old-fashioned ordering and payment systems
Many Hooters locations still rely on traditional ordering methods while competitors offer convenient app ordering and quick payment options. Customers used to modern restaurant technology might find the old-school approach frustrating and slow.
The lack of good rewards programs stands out when other restaurants offer points and free food through easy-to-use apps. Regular customers miss out on the perks they get from other places that track visits and offer special deals.
Simple things like splitting checks or paying separately can take longer than at other restaurants with modern systems. This can be especially annoying for large groups watching games or celebrating together.
Without current technology, orders can take longer to reach the kitchen and mistakes happen more often. Customers now expect the speed and accuracy they get at other restaurants with modern ordering systems.
While Hooters faces these challenges, they’re trying new approaches like selling frozen wings in grocery stores and opening restaurants in other countries. But for many American customers, their local Hooters isn’t what it used to be. Only time will tell if this longtime wing spot can win back its former popularity.
