Hooters closes last remaining Jacksonville restaurant

Hooters closed The last remaining Hooters restaurant in Jacksonville, 8938 San Jose Blvd., has closed. This photo of the exterior of the building was taken Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (Kelsey Williams, Action News Jax)

By Harold Goodridge

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — More than a year after filing for bankruptcy and closing dozens of restaurants nationwide, Hooters has closed its last remaining Jacksonville location this week.

Signs posted Saturday at Hooters, 8938 San Jose Blvd., states the restaurant has closed for good after 40 years.

Hooters closed its Southside location near Tinseltown cinema in June 2025. It closed in Orange Park in June 2024 and closed its location in the former Jacksonville Landing in June 2019 after 32 years.

Hooters filed for bankruptcy in April 2025 and closed about 30 locations in Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Hooters was founded in 1983 by six businessmen with no restaurant experience who collaborated to open a place they “couldn’t get kicked out of,” according to the company’s website. Hooters opened its first location in Clearwater and at its peak operated 420 restaurants in 29 countries.

The chain now operates just over 200 locations.

Hooters closed A sign posted Saturday (Oct. 3, 2026) on Hooters, 8938 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville states the restaurant has closed permanently. It was the city's last Hooters. (Kelsey Williams, Action News Jax)

Hooters closed A City of Jacksonville sign posted at Hooters, 8938 San Jose Blvd., says the business is closed. (Kelsey Williams, Action News Jax)

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