A Hooters restaurant in Chicago’s River North neighborhood has closed its doors after more than 30 years in business.
The lease was up and the neighborhood has changed, according to the chain.
It may have been priced out of the River North location at Wells and Erie.
It was the first Hooters in the Chicago area.
The restaurant opened about a decade after a group of guys with no restaurant experience opened the first one in Clearwater, Florida.
They liked wings, beer and sports and waitresses with cleavage and short shorts.
The word “breastaurant” was coined.
Fans of the Chicago restaurant have been posting about the closure on social media.
“No warning,” one woman said in a video posted online. “No nothing. I love Hooters. Are y’all serious? What happened?”
A sign placed on the door reads: “After over 35 years of serving the community, we be closing this Hooters location at the end of business October 18 due to our lease ending.” It goes on to say: “We are sincerely grateful to our guests, team members and community partners for their continued support and loyalty throughout the years.”
The company has been closing restaurants as it navigates a bankruptcy restructuring.
The River North restaurant was known by some as the “Haunted Hooters” because of purported paranormal activity.
Dining and Cooking