The last Hooters restaurant in deep South Texas is now closed as the company continues to restructure after emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The Hooters in Harlingen, in the Rio Grande Valley, had been the last of the company’s locations south of San Antonio that were still open after the company declared bankruptcy in March. But the Valley restaurant served its last hot wing over the Memorial Day weekend, with management announcing the location’s permanent closure on social media.
“It is with a HEAVY HEART to announce the official closing of Hooters of Harlingen permanently,” store leaders said in a Facebook post on Sunday, May 24.
“Me and my team would like to Thank (sic) all of our employees, supporting customers and local communities for all the support you have given us throughout the years,” the post further reads.
The restaurant, which is located at 98 Bass Pro Dr., Harlingen, TX 78552, closed its doors for the last time at 11 p.m. on Sunday.
In March 2025, Hooters of America formally declared bankruptcy and spent the next few months working on a plan to reorganize the company. In November, Hooters successfully restructured by selling off its company-owned locations to a group of franchisees — one that includes the company’s original founders working under a new company name, “Original Hooters.” The new company acquired 140 of 198 domestic Hooters restaurants in a restructuring process it referred to as “re-Hooterization.”
As part of the reorganization, Original Hooters has said it is revamping the restaurants with simplified menus, “staying true to the brand’s original beachy vibe,” and returning server uniforms to the company’s “original look” versus the underwear-like uniforms implemented by its previous private equity owners. The company is also looking to shed its reputation as a so-called “breastaurant” and instead establish itself as a family-friendly brand.
“We’re getting back to what makes us a beach-themed restaurant as opposed to a girlie bar,” Original Hooters CEO Neil Kiefer recently told The New York Times.
Back in Harlingen, there was little hint of the impending closure of the last location in South Texas. In the lead-up to Sunday, the restaurant’s Facebook account was filled with posts promoting daily specials, discounts for teachers and healthcare workers, and even watch parties as the San Antonio Spurs continue to advance in the NBA playoffs.