Hooters closes south Lakeland location, which locals say was the chain’s second restaurant-ever

Pour out a bottle of wing sauce because one of the world’s first Hooters restaurants has closed.

Nation’s Restaurant News says the Clearwater, Florida-born chain closed about 40 restaurants across the U.S. including the location in Lakeland, at 3437 S Florida Ave.

The Lakeland Ledger says the locals think the location is the second Hooters ever, after the original—which is still open at 2800 Gulf to Bay Blvd. in Clearwater.

The chain told NRN that it, too, has come under financial pressure that’s forcing closures, and that its brand is still expanding thanks to Hooters frozen products and new locations.

“Ensuring the well-being of our staff is our priority in these rare instances,” Hooters—which helped usher in the “breastaurant” movement featuring scantily-clad servers—wrote in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to serve our guests at home, on the go and at our restaurants here in the U.S. and around the globe.”

Hooters still operates more than a dozen restaurants in the Bay area, including another one in Lakeland at 6400 U.S.-98 N.

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