Hooters has recently closed its final restaurant in Jacksonville, Florida. This closure is part of ongoing changes following the chain’s bankruptcy restructuring. The Hooters on San Jose Boulevard, which started welcoming guests in 1986, has permanently closed its doors after 40 years of operation, according to local news sources.
The closure leaves Hooters with no locations in northeast Florida, creating a significant gap in the restaurant’s presence in its home state. The closest remaining Hooters on Florida’s Atlantic coast is now in Daytona Beach, based on information from the company’s website.
Jacksonville is not the only city in Florida to see a longtime Hooters close in recent times. In September, the Panama City Beach Hooters shut down after more than 30 years, as noted in a Facebook post. With this closure, Pensacola Beach becomes the singular Hooters location in the Florida Panhandle.
Hooters in other states have also faced similar fates. A location in Hickory, North Carolina, closed in late September after operating for many years, as reported by the U.S. Sun. The Boca Raton Hooters on the Atlantic coast closed earlier, in February, after 16 years, due to a lease non-renewal. This left no Hooters locations between Fort Lauderdale and West Melbourne, a 150-mile stretch.
The shutdowns follow a major restructuring where Hooters announced closing a “select number” of restaurants. This announcement came after the Hooters of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2025 due to financial strains and shifting consumer habits.
The restructuring was overseen by the original founders from Clearwater, Florida, and another ownership group. Their plan involved closing numerous restaurants across multiple states. The strategy aims to return Hooters to a predominantly franchise-operated model.
Hooters Inc. CEO Neil Kiefer expressed that the brand had become overly focused on certain themes. He hopes the future will prioritize food and hospitality, appealing more broadly to families and younger audiences.
Despite the restructuring, closures continue into 2026. In May, the Hooters in Fayetteville, North Carolina, closed, and the Mall of America location in Minnesota shut down in March after 33 years.
Amid these closures, there are new openings. A new restaurant was launched in The Villages, a retirement community near Orlando, in July 2025. This marked the first new restaurant post-bankruptcy. Another location in Lutz, near Tampa, is planned to open soon.