The “re-Hooterization” is beginning.
On Oct. 31, Hooters Inc., known as Original Hooters, bought Hooters of America. In partnership with Hoot Owl Restaurants, LLC, Original Hooters will now own 140 of 198 domestic Hooters restaurants, according to a news release.
Original Hooters is the group that first founded the restaurant in 1983 in Clearwater, Fla. The group promises to return Hooters to its roots as a beachy hangout.
“We’re not just acquiring restaurants — we’re taking back the Hooters name to show the world who we really are,” said Neil Kiefer, CEO of Hooters Inc., in the news release.
Chief among those changes is returning the famous “Hooters Girls” uniform to its classic look, a white crop top and orange shorts. In 2021, the restaurant chain rolled out even shorter shorts for the Hooters Girls, which some said looked more like “underwear,” according to Syracuse.com.
In addition, the Original Hooters group said it would simplify the chain’s menu and focus more on fresh ingredients. The chain will bring back its hand breaded wings, fresh cut salads and dressings made in house daily.