When you think of The Villages, a three-county 55-and-over community in central Florida 20 miles south of Ocala, you think of retirees, golf, and manicured lawns.
You don't generally think of Hooters. But you will.
The chicken-wing franchise known nationwide for attractive servers in tight orange shorts recently closed some locations in Gainesville, Lakeland, Orange Park and West Palm Beach as part of a larger reduction of underperforming restaurants around the country.
But there are still three Hooters restaurants planned for The Villages, which is the largest adult community in the United States, the nation's fastest-growing metro area according to the most recent U.S. Census data and the safest place to live in Florida.
There are two Hooters franchises. Hooters of America, which owns most of them, is the entity that closed locations. HMC Hospitality Group, which manages 11 Tampa Bay area locations as well as restaurants in the Chicagoland market, is run by the original owners and operators of the brand.
Will the all-American sports pub, bar and "breastaurant" fit in with a community with an average median age of 74.6 that is 54% female? (Sorry, the rumors of a "loofah code" to indicate sexual interests were too good to be true.)
“The residents of The Villages have asked for Hooters and we are excited to bring them one in Lake Deaton Plaza," said Neil Kiefer, CEO of HMC Hospitality Group. "We are looking forward to growing and expanding in this prime market for years to come.”
What is Hooters?
The first Hooters opened in Clearwater in 1983, the brainchild of six businessmen and the largest chain in the "brestaurant" genre of restaurants that advertise attractive waitresses in tight shirts and shorts.
"Hooters Girls" wear white tank tops with the "Hootie the Owl" logo and short orange shorts, plus tan pantyhose and reflect what an old version of the employees' handbook (published by the Smoking Gun) called "the look of the 'All American Cheerleader, Surfer, Girl Next Door."
Hooters is known for wings, sandwiches, burgers, seafood, and beer, the annual Hooters Girls calendar, the Miss Hooters Pageant, and for sponsoring NASCAR drivers. This year, Hooters is sponsoring Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports. The company also often supports local charities, sponsors marathons and contributes to local services.
It's also famous for multiple lawsuits over discriminatory hiring practices and for going through a long list of owners. Most recently, in 2019, Hooters was sold to Nord Bay Capital and TriArtisan Capital Advisors.
Where will the first Villages Hooters open and when?
The first of the Hooters in The Villages will open at Lake Deaton Plaza, 695 Kristine Way.
"There are three locations coming to The Villages," a spokesperson of HMC Hospitality Group said, "but this is the first first one we have a signed a lease for."
The spokesperson said the first location will be open in early 2025.
Where is Hooters still open in Florida?
- Beachplace, 17 S Atlantic Blvd Suite 304, Fort Lauderdale
- Boca Raton, 2240 NW 19th St Suite 1101-A
- Bradenton, 4908 14th St W
- Brandon, 10023 E Adamo Dr
- Cape Coral, 3120 Del Prado Blvd S
- Clearwater, 2800 Gulf to Bay Blvd (the original)
- Clearwater Beach, 381 Mandalay Ave
- Coral Way, 3301 SW 22nd St Unit 104, Miami
- Daytona Beach, 2100 W International Speedway Blvd
- Destin, 15015 Emerald Coast Pkwy
- Doral, 8695 NW 13th Terrace, Miami
- Ft. Lauderdale - Cypress Creek, 6345 N Andrews Ave
- Fort Myers, 4411 Cleveland Ave
- Fort Myers Beach, 4411 Cleveland Ave
- Hialeah, 680 W 49th St
- Jacksonville San Jose, 8938 San Jose Blvd
- Jacksonville Southside, 4521 Southside Blvd
- Kissimmee East, 1201 W Osceola Pkwy
- Kissimmee West, 8207 W Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy
- Lake Buena Vista, 8510 Palm Pkwy, Orlando
- Lakeland II, 3400 US Hwy 98 N
- Madiera Beach, 192 Johns Pass, Boardwalk Pl W
- Melbourne, 877 S Babcock St
- Melbourne West, 695 Palm Bay Rd NE
- Naples, 3625 Gateway Ln
- Ocala, 2711 SW 27th Ave
- Odessa, 16070 State Rd 54
- Orlando Airport, 7222 Augusta National Dr
- Orlando I Drive, 8801 International Dr
- Orlando Kirkman, 5300 FL-435
- Panama City Beach, 12709 Front Beach Rd
- Pembroke Pines, 7990 Pines Blvd
- Pensacola Beach, 400 Quietwater Beach Rd
- Port Charlotte, 1360 Tamiami Trail
- Port Richey, 5336 Treadway Dr
- Sanford, 550 Towne Center Cir
- Sarasota, 6507 S Tamiami Trail
- Spring Hill, 3437 Commercial Way
- St. Petersburg, 4125 4th St N
- Sunrise, 3805 N University Dr
- , 2000 N Monroe St
- Tampa, 4215 W. Hillsborough Ave
- Tampa North, 13606 Bruce B Downs Blvd
- South Tampa, 4420 West Gandy Blvd
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