Hooters “Family Friendly” Rebrand Has Social Media Up In Arms: “Might Wanna Consider Changing The Name”

Someone has to save Hooters from itself.

They say that even the strongest of empires eventually fall. That’s certainly ringing true in the modern day, as Hooters has been in the throes of bankruptcy over the last couple of months. The restaurant that specializes in… chicken wings used to stand as an invincible staple of American casual dining. Hell, Hooters even had their own airline for a short period of time.

Now, after facing a decline in customers and liquidity issues – and shuttering over 40 different locations across the United States – the restaurant chain officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this past Monday. The plan is for 100 of the company-owned restaurants to be sold to a group of Hooters franchisees that includes the chain’s original founders.

BREAKING: Hooters officially files for bankruptcy & plans to sell itself back to its original founders who say the restaurants are “here to stay!” pic.twitter.com/dmN9tXMs8p

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 1, 2025

So what’s next for Hooters?

Well, according to the CEO of HMC Hospitality Group, Neil Kiefer told Bloomberg. that the Hooters establishments that will persist past this bankruptcy filing will be going through a “re-Hooterization.” By that, he means that the restaurant is going to attempt to rebrand itself as a family-friendly eatery:

“You go to some parts of the country and people say, ‘Oh I could never go to Hooters, my wife would kill me. That’s depressing to us. We want to change that…

What hurt the brand as the founders see it were decisions that took it away from its roots as a beachy destination offering good food… that was also family-friendly.”

Wait a second… that’s implying that Hooters used to be family friendly and lost its way at some point. I’m no expert on Hooters, but I don’t think that argument would hold up in the court of law. The place is called HOOTERS. Always has been.

The reason why the Hooters brand slowly became obsolete is actually because their food prices became outrageous, and the establishment began to move away from the hot… wings that the restaurant has always been known for.

Instead of tiptoeing around it all, I’ll just let social media speak for themselves on this one. They are upset that Hooters is floating the idea of becoming family friendly. People online are even coming up with their very own ideas to help save Hooters:

I mean it’s too late for that unless you’re gonna completely rebrand. That’d be like playboy announcing they actually wanted to make meaningful articles. Ain’t no one reading it for the articles

— Slice of Anime (@TheSliceofAnime) March 27, 2025

Hooters’ shift to being “PG” and family-friendly just won’t work. Just close up shop; it’s over! You can’t sell a restaurant named “HOOTERS” as a place for families. Who advises these executives? https://t.co/iUxojfSlg7

— DolphinsTalk.com (@DolphinsTalk) March 28, 2025

They might wanna consider changing the name.

— Amy2112 (@Amy21123) March 27, 2025

get me to God’s country! pic.twitter.com/4wHHdleZnV

— Cinna (@CinnaBands) April 1, 2025

When i think family friendly, I think Hooters!

— Logan Dernoshek (@Logan_Dernoshek) March 27, 2025

Hooters but the girls look like they work at Hooters pic.twitter.com/uaCv8eC0Jm

— stepfanie tyler (@wildbarestepf) April 1, 2025

All in all, it’s a messy situation for Hooters, who once was one of the strongest restaurant brands in the United States. And to be honest, I find it hard to believe that Hooters is going to come back from the dead by becoming a whole different, bring-the-family-along restaurant.

Seems like pulling a page out of SNL‘s playbook and calling upon the services of Sydney Sweeney would be a better step in the right direction for the Hooters brand:

customers love the new waitress at Hooters pic.twitter.com/M22YhW4aQC

— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) March 3, 2024