Wings Clipped | The Last Hooters Near Austin Permanently Closes

The end of an era has quietly arrived for fans of bright orange shorts and breaded chicken wings in Central Texas. The last remaining Hooters location in the Austin metro area, situated in Round Rock, has officially shuttered its doors.

According to reports and a public lockout notice confirmed by local journalists on June 18, 2026, the closure is the direct result of a landlord dispute tied to the restaurant chain's ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The location's final day of standard operation was May 24, 2026. A notice taped to the front door confirmed a commercial tenant lockout, with the landlord seizing possession of the property after Hooters allegedly failed to pay rent and maintain the premises in violation of a lease dating back to 1999.

A Nationwide Struggle for Survival

The Round Rock closure is just the latest domino to fall for the Atlanta-based casual dining brand. Plagued by inflation, soaring labor costs, and a shifting cultural appetite, Hooters of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in a North Texas federal court in March 2025. To manage a staggering $376 million in debt, the company shifted to a franchise-only model and began liquidating underperforming corporate-owned restaurants across the country.

Texas, once a stronghold for the brand, has seen a rapid string of closures over the past year. The Round Rock location joins a growing list of shuttered Texas outposts across the state, with the broader casual dining sector continuing to shed locations as post-pandemic cost pressures squeeze mid-tier chains.

The company released a statement claiming these decisions were made to "focus, revitalize and strengthen the Original Hooters brand across America." For Austin residents craving the chain's signature casual dining experience, the closest remaining options now require a road trip down I-35 to San Antonio.

The closure is one of several Austin-area stories making headlines this week. In other local news, a $1 million Powerball ticket sold at a North Austin Circle K is set to expire in less than 30 days, with the Texas Lottery urging residents to check their pockets before the August 1 deadline.