Casual restaurant brand Hooters of America announced July 2 that it was being acquired by Nord Bay Capital and TriArtisan Capital Advisors. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Hooters had been owned by H.I.G. Capital, Chanticleer Holdings and other investors, who will each retain a stake in the company as part of the transaction.
The first Hooters opened in Clearwater, FL, in 1983. Hooters of America today is the franchisor and operator of more than 430 Hooters restaurants in 38 states and 27 countries.
The brand, known for its chicken wings and its sexy “Hooters girls” waitresses, plans additional restaurant openings later this year, according to CEO Terry Marks. It unveiled a new fast-casual concept called Hoots in 2017.