Hooters is closing restaurants across US. Are any Arizona stores shutting down?
It's been a tough year for restaurant chains, and another fan favorite is on the chopping block.
A "select number" of Hooters restaurants will shut down due to "pressure from current market conditions," the chain said in a statement to USA TODAY on Monday.
"Ensuring the well-being of our staff is our priority in these rare instances," the statement reads. "This brand of 41 years remains highly resilient and relevant. We look forward to continuing to serve our guests at home, on the go and at our restaurants here in the U.S. and around the globe."
Here's what Arizonans need to know about the closures and impact on Grand Canyon State locations.
Are any Arizona Hooters locations closing?
No Hooters restaurants in Arizona appeared to be closing. All locations were listed as open on the company website, and none appeared in other media outlets' lists of stores closing.
Closures: Nearly a dozen metro Phoenix restaurants shuttered in May — one after more than 40 years
Hooters locations in Arizona
There are five Hooters restaurants in Arizona, according to the company's website.
1665 S. Alma School Road in Mesa
10223 N. Metro Parkway in Phoenix
2820 N. 75th Ave. in Phoenix
7280 E. Broadway Blvd. in Tucson
1519 S. Yuma Palms Parkway in Yuma
Why are Hooters closing?
Like many other restaurant chains, Hooters took a hit during the pandemic and is suffering from the recent rise in food costs.
During the pandemic, Hooters pivoted to take-out sales. In 2021, Hooter of America Brands CEO Sal Melilli told Business Insider that to-go sales were 30% of their business, up from 20% pre-pandemic, and the company was emphasizing their fast-casual chain Hoots.
"With new Hooters restaurants opening domestically and internationally, new Hooters frozen products launching at grocery stores, and the Hooters footprint expanding into new markets with both company and franchise locations, this brand of 41 years remains highly resilient and relevant," a Hooters representative told a USA TODAY Network reporter. "We look forward to continuing to serve our guests at home, on the go and at our restaurants here in the U.S. and around the globe."
These other restaurants announced closures in 2024
Red Lobster closed nearly a hundred locations last month while filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, including one in Arizona. More locations could also be affected.
The parent company of Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba's Italian Grill and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar closed 41 locations earlier this year
Burger King announced in May 2023 that the burger chain would be closing up to 400 locations by the end of the year.
Appleby's announced plans to close from 25 to 35 locations in 2024.
Cracker Barrel's CEO told investors in May that the chain wasn't as "relevant" as it once was and sales were down.
USA TODAY reporter Anthony Robledo contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Hooters restaurants closings: Are any Arizona stores closing?
