Hooters in West Palm Beach is among dozens to close nationally under economic strains

As Palm Beach County residents continue to wait and see whether any of its three local Red Lobsters will shutter in a wave that has gripped the nation for the past month, another national chain is faltering under economic stresses, and this time a West Palm Beach restaurant is among the casualties.

The Hooters at 2020 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd. closed Sunday, company officials confirmed Monday, June 24. Roughly 40 Hooters restaurants across the country closed permanently Sunday morning, according to Texas news outlet Texoma.

Closures included restaurants in Texas, Florida, Kentucky and Virginia, according to local media reports.

More restaurant closures: Red Lobster's financial woes could shutter 2 of 3 local seafood restaurants, say court docs

That leaves the Hooters on NW 19th Avenue in Boca Raton as the only one in the county.

Different franchise groups own different entities. The location in West Palm Beach was owned by Hooters corporate entity Hooters of America. Boca Raton's location falls under a franchise.

The West Palm Beach Hooters joins other across the state, including sites in Gainesville and Orange Park, just outside of Jacksonville, to close in the past days.

Why is Hooters closing in West Palm Beach?

In a statement to the Palm Beach Post, Hooters said the closing in the college town was a result of "current market conditions."

"Like many restaurants under pressure from current market conditions, Hooters has made the difficult decision to close a select number of underperforming stores. Ensuring the well-being of our staff is our priority in these rare instances. With new Hooters restaurants opening domestically and internationally, new Hooters frozen products launching at grocery stores, and the Hooters footprint expanding into new markets with both company and franchise locations, this brand of 41 years remains highly resilient and relevant. 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."

The industry news site, restaurantbusinessonline.com, reported that the chain "known for its chicken wings and scantily clad waitresses has been struggling for years." It quoted Technomic data in reporting that since 2018, U.S. systemwide sales are down nearly 15%, and its domestic footprint has shrunk by 12%.

Hooters is a Sunshine State original, first opening in Clearwater in 1983. Hooters has had a presence in Palm Beach County that dates to at least the early 1990s.

Sonja Isger is the features editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at sisger@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Hooters closes West Palm Beach restaurant; Boca Raton still open