Long Island’s only Hooters to stay open after nationwide shutdowns

While Hooters shuttered dozens of locations nationwide last week, the chain’s Farmingdale outpost is holding up just fine.

So say two employees at the Farmingdale Hooters, who confirmed the location is doing well despite the recent wave of closures.

“We’re staying open. We’re a franchisee, and our location is doing very well,” an employee told Greater Long Island on Monday during the lunch shift.

The Farmingdale restaurant, located at 25 Smith St., remains a popular spot for wings, sports fans and diners looking for the classic Hooters experience. It stands as the only Hooters restaurant on Long Island.

Local reports across the country indicate nearly 40 Hooters locations across the country were abruptly closed last week as part of the company’s effort to streamline operations.

The closures come on the heels of Hooters’ parent company filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this year, a move the franchise said was aimed at restructuring debt and repositioning the brand amid shifting consumer preferences.

Known for its casual dining atmosphere and its signature servers in orange tank tops, Hooters — which unabashedly invites customers to “Bounce in for all the games” and to “Go big at Hooters” — has faced growing competition from fast-casual eateries and changing attitudes toward its branding.

_{Top photo: Servers at the Hooters in Farmingdale. (Credit: Hooters/Instagram)}