This past weekend, a notable stir was caused in Georgia as Hooters, a well-known restaurant chain headquartered in Atlanta, abruptly closed five of its locations. This action forms part of a larger, nationwide retrenchment that saw the company closing over 40 locations.
For those who frequented the Atlanta, Brunswick, Hiram, McDonough, and Macon branches, the closures came without a warning. The news hit particularly hard considering Hooters’ roots and its long-standing presence in the state. Now, fans of the chain are left with only 16 locations scattered across Georgia to visit.
The manner in which these closures were handled has sparked widespread conversation. A former employee, Alicia Williams, shared her immediate reaction on Facebook, capturing the final meeting on video where the staff was informed about the shutdown. Her caption, “And just like that, we are all unemployed,” vividly captures the abrupt nature of the layoffs. She also posted a letter from the corporate office explaining the closures but regretting the lack of prior notice, which only added to the employees’ frustration.