Hooters in East Meadow closed on Sunday and two other Suffolk County locations are changing names (Dan O’Regan/Long Island Press)
The Farmingdale-based restaurant group that owned the only three Hooters franchises on Long Island has decided to break away from the iconic brand and rename two of its locations, while shuttering one altogether.
Ed McCabe, attorney for Strix LLC, confirmed that the restaurant group closed the doors to the East Meadow Hooters on Sunday. He cited the sluggish economy, “declining attendance” at nearby Nassau Coliseum, and up to $1 million in future repairs needed to maintain the restaurant, as several factors.
“Just from a business model it didn’t make sense anymore,” he said. “It was losing money, it was a negative cash flow on the business. I attribute that to the economy. I attribute that to the Nassau Coliseum.”
“When that place was first thought about,” he continued, “I think the [New York] Islanders were a brand that people thought you could build something around.”
Strix has also decided to re-brand its Islandia and Farmingdale locations. The latter will become a Bud’s Ale House, and the Islandia location will be coined, “58,” named for the Long Island Expressway exit where the restaurant is located.
The staff at both restaurants won’t be affected by the change, McCabe said.
Waitresses and the kitchen staff in East Meadow will be allowed to re-apply at the two new restaurants, he noted. East Meadow Hooters managers will be incorporated into the re-branded restaurants.
“There was no way we could make that restaurant profitable,” McCabe said of East Meadow.
The Hooters menu needed to be expanded, he said, while criticizing the company for not doing enough in terms of local advertising.
“There’s nothing but hostility between us,” he said, adding that he expects Hooters to sue Strix for breach of contract.
Hooters didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
McCabe hinted that the waitresses, dressed in orange booty shorts and tight tank tops at Hooters, may also don outfits to attract male customers.
“Believe me,” he said, “we understand that our girls out there encourage our sales, so we’re not going to destroy one of our assets.”
