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When I heard that Hooters Clarke Quay will close after its last day of operations on 31 Jan 2026, my first reaction was something along the lines of, “Wait, Singapore has a Hooters?”
To Gen Z folk like me, Hooters has always been the butt of jokes. If you’re unfamiliar with Hooters, they are an American restaurant and sports bar chain popularised by their unique ‘Hooters girls’ concept, where female waiters dress in risqué, form-fitting clothing.
Hooters Clarke Quay first opened in 1996, marking a significant milestone for the brand as it was their first international outlet outside North America. Two other Hooters outlets later opened under different franchises, but both have since closed.
Unfortunately, times have been tough for the brand, with its American parent company filing for bankruptcy on 31 Mar 2025.
According to Selena Chua, the Managing Director of Hooters Clarke Quay, manpower shortages and low sales were why they chose to close. While Hooters kept salaries competitive and food prices affordable, their coffers were bleeding money.
Ms Chua also told local news sites that “Most of the younger generation do not want to work in food and beverage,” when discussing the closure.
As stated earlier, I had no idea Singapore even had a Hooters, and I think my fellow Gen Zs echo a similar sentiment. Hooters Clarke Quay doesn’t appear to have an Instagram, and their last post on Facebook was in 2022. The restaurant has a TikTok page that started posting in Apr 2025, but the content is infrequent.
Hooters is a product of its time, and the driving concept behind it just doesn’t appeal to most Millennials and Gen Zs. All these factors contribute to a lack of top-of-mind awareness, leading to low sales and an inevitable closure.
Hooters Clarke Quay closes after 31 Jan 2026. If the news has piqued your interest, remember to head down before it’s too late.
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