Hooters is closing one of its most popular locations after 20 years – leaving just one location remaining in the state.
The popular chain is closing its Manchester location after two decades, leaving just one remaining in Connecticut.
‘After nearly two decades of hot wings, cold beer, and great memories Hooters of Manchester has made the difficult decision to close its doors,’ the restaurant announced on social media.
‘Thank you for the many years of patronage and loyalty’ it added.
The last remaining Connecticut location is in Wethersfield, but Manchester’s employees will be moved to the restaurant in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
Hooters is closing its Manchester location after twenty years
It comes after the chain announced the abrupt closure of forty locations across the country last month.
They included locations in Florida, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia.
Local customers reacted to the closure by commenting on the location’s Facebook post.
‘Thank you for all the memories!’ one customer wrote.
‘Ah man. I had great memories. Watching WWE ppv’s, the wings, and of course those beautiful Hooters Girls!’ another added.
Despite the closures bosses insisted the 41-year-old brand ‘remains highly resilient and relevant,’ and highlighted a new range of Hooters frozen food which is being sold in supermarkets across America.
‘Like many restaurants under pressure from current market conditions, Hooters has made the difficult decision to close a select number of underperforming stores,’ a spokesperson told DailyMail.com.
‘We look forward to continuing to serve our guests at home, on the go and at our restaurants here in the US and around the globe.’
Hooters will have about 300 restaurants globally after the closures. That is down from 333 in 2018, according to Techonomic.
As well as being known for scantily clad waitresses, Hooters also calls itself ‘the original American wing joint’, and celebrated its 40th birthday in 2023.
Only last May, it was opening restaurants – three in Las Vegas and three in Florida.
The first Hooters opened in Clearwater, Florida in 1983. The eatery – dubbed ‘breastauraunt’ in the ’90s – was initially dreamed up as a joke.
Conceived by the now-famous ‘Hooters Six,’ who had no restaurant experience between them and were even arrested for impersonating restaurateurs, Hooters has seen significant changes and achieved magnificent success.
Hooters has recently shut around 40 restaurants
The first Hooters opened in Clearwater, Florida in 1983
Conceived by the now-famous ‘Hooters Six,’ who had no restaurant experience between them and were even arrested for impersonating restaurateurs, Hooters has seen significant changes
The sports-style bar, which was founded in Clearwater in 1983 (pictured), celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2023 – but the eatery was initially dreamed up as a joke
The founders included L.D. Stewart, a painting contractor; Gil DiGiannantonio, a liquor salesman; Ranieri, known as Uncle Billy, a retired service station owner; Ed Droste, a real estate executive; Dennis Johnson, a brick mason by trade; and Ken Wimmer, a partner in the painting business with L.D. Strange group.
And, although excited about their venture, the six didn’t expect the eatery to last.
When Hooters exploded in popularity, it spawned an entire entity – putting its name to calendars, casinos, airlines, NASCAR races and even products in grocery stores.
But the chain’s success hasn’t been without controversies, including gender discrimination in the 1990s, studies into the mental health of servers and complaints about skimpy uniforms.
