Hooters has recently closed its last restaurant in Jacksonville, Florida. This marks another significant loss as the chain continues to deal with closures following its bankruptcy restructuring.
The Jacksonville location on San Jose Boulevard ceased operations after four decades of service, according to local reports. This closure leaves Hooters without any presence in northeast Florida and further reduces its operations in its home state.
Currently, Daytona Beach hosts the northernmost Hooters on Florida’s Atlantic coast, as shown on the company’s online restaurant locator.
Jacksonville is not the only Florida location to shut down. The Panama City Beach Hooters closed in September, following more than 30 years of operation. Now, Pensacola Beach serves as the only location in the Florida Panhandle.
Additionally, the Boca Raton Hooters closed in February after 16 years due to the landlord declining to renew the lease. This created a gap of nearly 150 miles along the Atlantic coast between Fort Lauderdale and West Melbourne without a Hooters.
The restaurant chain’s financial troubles led to Hooters of America filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2025. This decision was influenced by mounting debt and shifting consumer behaviors. As part of the restructuring, a “select number” of restaurants closed in June 2025. The company’s focus shifted towards a franchise-operated business model.
Neil Kiefer, CEO of Hooters Inc., had previously stated that he wanted to emphasize food and hospitality, moving away from an oversexualized brand image. The aim was to cater to families and younger customers, moving past a reputation of being “little boys’ club stores.”
Despite restructuring efforts, closures continue into 2026. The Hooters in Fayetteville, North Carolina, shut down in May. Similarly, the Mall of America Hooters in Minnesota closed in March after 33 years.
However, Hooters has opened a new location in The Villages, Florida. This retirement community, northwest of Orlando, saw a Hooters open in July 2025. Plans to open another in Lutz near Tampa are underway.
Peter Burke is a lifestyle editor with Fox News Digital, focusing on food and drink topics.