1851

Few restaurant franchises were impacted by COVID-19 as heavily as <a href="https://www.hooters.com/franchising/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment-2716418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hooters</a>, a franchise that has depended heavily on in-person dining since the 1980’s. The pandemic, along with <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/10/4/17911936/hooters-uniform-breastaurant-decline?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment-2716418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">shifting consumer preference</a>, has made Hooters one of the less profitable brands in the last year.The brand’s niche market was disappearing even before the pandemic, however. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hooters-business-strategy-shifts-2017-8?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment-2716418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Millennials are less apt to frequent their local Hooters</a> than the people that made it popular throughout the 1980s. Hooters sales were on a <a href="https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/hooters-america-has-been-sold?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment-2716418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">decline</a> before 2020, and <a href="https://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/financing/hooters-america-has-been-sold?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment-2716418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">the entire corporation was sold in 2019.</a>The company was forced to get clever. Hooters recently launched a fast-casual offshoot named <a href="https://hootsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment-2716418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hoots Wings.</a> It offers plenty of the standard Hooters menu items, but under a fast food model that bears little resemblance to the ‘experience’ of a traditional Hooters. A Yahoo! article titled <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/hooters-doing-great-case-were-142300976.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment-2716418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">“Hooters is doing great, in case you were wondering”</a> points mainly to the brand’s adaptive success through Hoots Wings and Uber Eats, instead of its traditional restaurant setup.The brand’s most profitable franchise investments right now are through Hoots Wings, and less through the traditional Hooters restaurant. <a href="https://www.restaurantdive.com/editors/jlittman/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment-2716418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Julie Littman</a> of Restaurant Dive wrote that “while Hooters added <a href="https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/how-chains-are-automating-the-curbside-experience/585611/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment-2716418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">curbside</a> earlier [in 2020] and <a href="https://www.fsrmagazine.com/chain-restaurants/hooters-ups-ante-sports-betting-platform?utm_source=fs_insider&amp%3Butm_medium=email&amp%3Butm_campaign=20200312&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment-2716418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">sports betting</a> in Indiana, Pennsylvania and New Jersey,” it also had to lay off “hundreds of workers [last year] in states like <a href="https://www.wect.com/2020/04/10/hooters-lays-off-hundreds-employees-across-north-carolina-including-location-wilmington/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment-2716418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">North Carolina</a>, <a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/missouri/2020/04/09/missouri-springfield-hooters-employee-layoffs-restaurants-curbside-service/5124785002/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment-2716418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Missouri</a>, <a href="https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2020/04/hooters-girls-lose-jobs-in-flint-saginaw-amid-coronavirus-pandemic.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment-2716418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Michigan</a> and <a href="https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/hooters-laying-off-500-workers-across-indiana-because-of-coronavirus/article_c047e328-debc-52aa-926e-3c031b17ed4e.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment-2716418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Indiana</a> due to the challenges of the pandemic.”<a href="https://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/19740480/the-united-states-sports-betting-where-all-50-states-stand-legalization?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment-2716418" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The sports betting market is expanding,</a> which could mean increased business for Hooters locations if state legislation allows its units to offer that service. Many Hooters franchises can collect a large piece of that revenue right now and promote their in-person dining experience unlike ever before.The traditional model for Hooters does not project strong revenue, but a gambling-inspired method to draw people in could eventually yield some serious franchised income. The standard Hooters may be less of a restaurant in the coming years and more of a sportsbook, but the potential for profitability still exists.

Is Hooters a Profitable Franchise Investment?

1851 Franchise

The brand has placed emphasis on advancing its fast-casual Hoots Wings offshoot, while the traditional Hooters model may soon depend on sports betting to find profitability.

is-hooters-a-profitable-franchise-investment

Sola Salons

Sola Salons Targets Chicago for Strategic Franchise Growth

sola-salons-targets-chicago-for-strategic-franchise-growth

Melting Pot

Photo of Melting Pot white chocolate fondue

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success

Crust Pizza Co.

Crust Pizza Co. - Technology Piece - CTO Nick Fontenot - May 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Crust Pizza Co. Builds the Future of Franchising With Tech-First Strategy

crust-pizza-co-technology-nick-fontenot-cto

Paris Baguette

Paris Baguette’s Recipe for Expansion: Leadership, Community and A Vision for 1,000 Cafés by 2030

paris-baguettes-recipe-for-expansion-leadership-community-and-a-vision-for-1000-cafes-by-2030

Seniors Helping Seniors®

Franchisee Spotlight with Billy and Anita Clark and Seniors Helping Seniors

Heart and Purpose: Couple Launch Seniors Helping Seniors® Franchise in Northern Arizona

heart-and-purpose-couple-launch-seniors-helping-seniors-franchise-in-northern-arizona

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

The Future of Franchising: Trends and Predictions for 2025 and Beyond

the-future-of-franchising-trends-and-predictions-for-2025-and-beyond

Layoffs Surge to Pandemic-Era Highs, Opening Doors for Franchise Growth

layoffs-surge-to-pandemic-era-highs-opening-doors-for-franchise-growth

Restaurant Business: Crumbl Cools Its Expansion, Refocuses on Profitability

restaurant-business-crumbl-cools-its-expansion-refocuses-on-profitability

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: Building Your Brand’s Growth Machine

ultimate-guide-to-selling-franchises

Is Hooters a Profitable Franchise Investment?

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS