What’s that floating down the Ohio River? It’s Hooters!
The restaurant chain’s Newport spot, formerly located on the river at 301 Riverboat Row, was transported via barge down the waterway, toward the Licking River, Aug. 21.
Newport planning and building director Brian Steffen said Hooters contracted C&B Marine in Hebron to decommission the barge, and it is being taken there to be dismantled. The city of Newport is not directly supervising the removal.
The removal is part of a sudden closure of more than 30 locations across multiple states that took place June 4. Hooters said in a statement to USA TODAY that the closed stores were company-owned locations and called the closures a “difficult decision.”
“Hooters will be well-positioned to continue our iconic legacy under a pure franchise business model,” the company said. “We are committed to supporting our impacted team members throughout this process and are incredibly grateful to our valued customers for their loyalty and dedication to the Hooters brand.”
Hooters filed for bankruptcy in late March but did not indicate that restaurants would close as a result of the filing. The company has been closing locations suddenly since at least 2024.
How many Hooters locations are in Ohio and Kentucky?
For those mourning the departure of the floating Hooters location, you’re in luck. Ohio has four other Hooters, as does Kentucky, per the website’s locations list.
Ohio Hooters locations
Kentucky Hooters locations
This story was updated to add a gallery.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: A final farewell: Newport Hooters floats away down Ohio River after closure. See here
Reporting by Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
