AN UNLIKELY buyer has just approached Hooters with a cash bid to save the beloved chain from a bankruptcy filing.
An all-American icon has come to the rescue out of nowhere, and may have just saved the country’s most infamous dining brand.
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The US Sun recently reported on the first steps Hooters has taken to save itself from its bankruptcy filing.
Last month, the chain signed a deal with The Buyer Group to run a select number of Hooters locations from now on.
The Buyer Group is a PR firm and stands to help Hooters improve their public image.
Hooters has found itself becoming more and more outdated as a concept, and chiefs hope this public image boost will help.
Sal Melilli, Chief Executive Officer of Hooters of America, said: “Our renowned Hooters restaurants are here to stay.
“Today’s announcement marks an important milestone in our efforts to reinforce Hooters’ financial foundation and continue delivering the guest-obsessed hospitality experience and delicious food our customers and communities have come to expect.
“I’ve seen firsthand the incredible value and opportunities our brand brings to life, and I look forward to continuing that momentum well into the future.
“I’m incredibly grateful to our valued customers, partners, and employees for their continued support.”
Neil Kiefer, CEO of Hooters Inc., on behalf of the Buyer Group, added: “With over 30 years of hands-on experience across the Hooters ecosystem, we have a profound understanding of our customers and what it takes to not only meet, but consistently exceed their expectations.
“As we look toward the future, we are committed to restoring the Hooters brand back to its roots and simplifying HOA’s operations by adopting a pure franchise model that will maximize the potential for sustainable, long-term growth.
“The foundation we’ve laid ensures the continued success of our brand – one that is driven by a relentless focus on delivering an exceptional experience each and every visit for our customers.”
AN ALL-AMERICAN HELPING HAND
A new step has been taken to secure Hooters‘ future, and it comes form an unlikely ally.
Fox Business reports that Hulk Hogan’s Real American Beer is set to offer an all-cash bid for the Hooters IP.
Real American Beer is taking big steps to acquire legacy properties that align with its growing portfolio.
And Hogan wants his platform to be entertaining and patriotic.
Pending acquisition, the brand plans to relaunch Hooters across consumer products, digital content, gaming, and experiential formats.
Full list of Hooters store closures
The following Hooters locations have already closed:
Alabama
- Hooters, Huntsville, 4729 NW University
- Hooters, Birmingham, 1278 Oak Grove Rd
Florida
- Hooters, Gainesville, 3105 SW 34th St
- Hooters, Lakeland, 3437 South Florida Ave
- Hooters, Orange Park, 1740 Wells Road
- Hooters, West Palm Beach, 2020 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd
Kentucky
- Hooters, Louisville, 4948 Dixie Highway
- Hooters, Richmond, 241 Eastern Bypass
Georgia
- Hooters, Brunswick, 10355 Canal Crossing
- Hooters, Hiram, 5464 Wendy Bagwell Pkwy
- Hooters, Macon, 112 Riverside Parkway
- Hoots Wings by Hooters, Atlanta, 935 Memorial Drive NE, Suite 310
- Hooters, McDonough, 1858 Jonesboro Road
Illinois
- Hooters, Springfield, 3241 Horizon Drive
Indiana
- Hooters, Castleton, 6426 E. 82nd St
- Hooters, Clarksville, 941 Lewis & Clark Pkwy
Maryland
- Hooters, Baltimore, 301 Light St 1445
Missouri
- Hooters, Florissant, 2765 N. Highway 67
- Hooters, Independence, 19850 E. Valley View Pkwy
- Hooters, North Kansas City, 6411 Barry Rd
North Carolina
- Hooters, Greenville, 316 S.W. Greenville Blvd
- Hooters, Jacksonville, 463 Western Blvd
- Hooters, Charlotte, 123 W. Trade Street
Oklahoma
- Hooters, Oklahoma City, 13320 N Pennsylvania Ave
South Carolina
- Hooters, Columbia, 7711 Two Notch Road
Tennessee
- Hooters, Memphis, 7535 Winchester Road
Texas
- Hooters, Beaumont, 850 Interstate 10
- Hooters, Laredo, 5706 San Bernardo Avenue
- Hooters, Houston, 2519 Southwest Parkway
- Hooters, Baytown, 4710 I-10 East
- Hooters, Arlington, 5821 West I-20
- Hooters, Wichita Falls, 3701 Call Field Road
- Hooters, Lewisville, 1960 S. Stemmons
- Hooters, San Antonio, 849 E. Commerce St., Ste. 105
- Hooters, Bryan, 960 N. Earl Rudder Fwy
- Hooters, Lubbock, 4950 S. Loop 289
- Hooters, Galveston, 6028 Heards Lane
- Hooters, Waco, 3921 S. Jack Kultgen Freeway
- Hooters, Fort Worth Downtown, 150 Throckmorton, Suite 132
- Hooters, McAllen, 410 E. Expressway 83
- Hooters, San Angelo, 4384 Sherwood Way
- Hooters, Seabrook, 1818 NASA Road 1
- Hooters, Wichita Falls, 3701 Call Field Rd
Virginia
- Hooters, Manassas, 8503 Rixlew Drive
It will all be geared towards launching the brand for today’s generation.
It is not clear if and when this deal would go through, but if it did, it could hep Hooters in a big way.
The iconic former WWE wrestler has had his products hit store shelves in major ways recently, too.
His beer recently popped up in Walmart in eight states, less than one year after its founding.
It has become the official beer of the WWE, and is the second most popular light beer after Samuel Adams.
Its name is an ode to Hogan’s entrance music, titled “Real American.”
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