Hooters Completes Closure of All Locations in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Minnesota After 2023 Bankruptcy

Hooters filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023. Court records list inflation-driven cost increases, supply chain disruptions and declining same-store sales as primary factors. The chain closed roughly 40 company-owned sites nationwide before liquidating its remaining holdings in the four states. New York Post reporting confirmed the Colonie, New York closure; Massachusetts sites in Dedham, Saugus and West Springfield followed. Connecticut and Minnesota locations shuttered earlier in the year.

Primary documents show the rebranding effort under new ownership emphasized a beach-bar motif and reduced emphasis on the original uniform. WSJ interviews with operator Neil Kiefer document the shift away from prior marketing. BLS data for Q2 2024 indicate restaurant employment in the affected states remained below 2019 levels, with full-service segments showing slower recovery than limited-service formats.

State-level labor cost differentials and post-pandemic demand patterns align with the selective closures. Minimum-wage trajectories and commercial rent indices in New York and Massachusetts exceed those in remaining operational states. No primary filing attributes closures to regulatory or cultural mandates.

The restructured entity retains locations in other jurisdictions. Continued monitoring of quarterly sales filings will reveal whether the narrower footprint improves margins or accelerates further contraction.