Hooters opened with the Mall of America in 1992, one of the Bloomington mega mall’s original restaurants and part of the chain’s explosive ’90s expansion.
At its peak, Hooters boasted more than 425 locations around the world. It had its own syndicated late-night TV series, a NASCAR racing team, and, briefly, an airline.
But nothing lasts forever, not even the seemingly unassailable combination of decent wings, televised sports, beer, and waitresses in neon-orange hot pants. The chain filed for bankruptcy about a year ago, and Hooters MoA announced last week that it will close for the final time after service on Sunday, March 22. After 33 years, the mall will be without a Hooters for the very first time, news that the good people of the Twin Cities have mostly accepted with a tremendous shrug…