Hooters (original), 2800 Gulf To Bay Blvd

The original Hooter's 2800 Gulf to Bay Blvd. Circa mid-1980s. Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida digital collection.

According to the history on the walls of the original restaurant, Hooter’s started innocently with six partners. After a late-night drinking session, L.D Stuart, Gil Giannantonio, “Uncle Billy” Ranieri, Ken Wimmer, Ed Droste, and Dennis Johnson decided to open a bar they liked and couldn’t get kicked out of. It all started when the business was incorporated on April Fools' Day, 1983, and opened on October 4.

They found a dive bar on Gulf to Bay Blvd in Clearwater, negotiated a lease, cleaned a little, added some wood accents, and opened it. They described the place as “delightfully tacky, yet unrefined.” The name “Hooters” originated from a routine by comedian Steve Martin. They had no idea it would become such a huge success.

Within two years, there was a two-hour wait to get in. Fit, shapely women wearing skimpy orange shorts and tight tank tops, serving good food and cheap beer was a winning formula.

GTE employee Lynne Austin was the first Hooters Girl. She was participating in a Jose Cuervo bikini contest (she won) when Ed Droste wagered with others that he could convince her to be the first. While she didn’t agree immediately, after tangling with her GTE managers a few weeks later, she quit and joined the team.

A deal was made with steakhouse chain owner Hugh Connerty to expand the brand and open more locations in 1984. That deal eventually led to split ownership, the original Hooters Six and Hooters of America. The first Hooters calendar, featuring Lynne Austin, was released in 1985. Over the next several years, the annual calendars became the world's top-selling calendars. As they franchised the brand, Hooters of America, LLC was the franchisor and operator of more than 420 Hooters restaurants in 42 states and 29 countries. They opened an airline, a casino in Las Vegas and in 2017, started a fast-casual spinoff called “Hoots.”

The model gained the nickname “breasterant” and faced several knock-offs, but none were as successful as Hooters. It also led to several lawsuits alleging racial and gender discrimination, but the money kept flowing.

On March 31, 2025, citing high food and labor costs, shifting customer tastes, and growing competition from newer casual chains, Hooters of America announced that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, promising to retool and re-emerge. Calling it re-Hooterization, if the deal goes through, franchise owner Neil Kiefer, who owns 22 Hooters and Hoot Owl Restaurants, LLC, will acquire 100 locations. The original location, still owned by the original group and not in bankruptcy, remains open, popular, and busy. On a recent visit, it was still hosted and served by several beautiful women dressed in tank tops and orange shorts.

Hooter's 2800 Gulf to Bay Blvd 2025. © Chip Weiner.

The original Hooter's bar. Circa mid-1980s. Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida digital collection.

Hooters interior with a rubber chicken in a coffin. Circa 1985 Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida digital collection.

Lynn Austin, the first Hooters girl. Circa 1985 Gandy Collection. Courtesy of the University of South Florida digital collection.