Hooters Goes Bust, Oyo Las Vegas Location Closes Abruptly

By Scott Roeben, on August 08 2025
4 min read 12 comments
Las Vegas Las Vegas Restaurants

A once-popular breastaurant, Hooters, has closed suddenly at the off-Strip Oyo Las Vegas.

This follows a bankruptcy by Hooters of America earlier this year. The company has closed dozens of its locations across the country.

It’s unknown if the shuttering of Hooters at Oyo was sparked by sagging business levels. Because if you thought we were going to do a story about Hooters without a “sagging” reference, you do not know this blog at all.

How will young, attractive women survive financially in a place like Las Vegas? Oh, the humanity!

Hooters of America filed bankruptcy back in April 2025, and at the time we were nervous about the fate of Oyo’s Hooters. Now, we know our concerns were warranted.

Prior to the pandemic, Hooters (a license deal, not a lease deal) was a booming business at Oyo, doing 1,200 “covers” (customers) a day and raking in a rumored $10-12 million a year in revenue. That’s rarified air in the restaurant business. Post-COVID, not so much. Revenue dropped by roughly half, we hear.

We raised the red flag back in 2024 when Hooters lost its video poker machines, which we’re pretty sure was our fault.

Vegas411 was the first outlet to share news about the closure.

The outlet shared a tip from an employee saying, “Last night, right at the end of our shift, Hooters told us not to come in tomorrow because they’re closing the store down. It felt so shady and completely disingenuous.”

Businesses close, it’s just reality. You can treat employees with class or you can be shitty about it. Good job sucking, Hooters. Can’t imagine why your company went bankrupt.

This situation has drama written all over it. Oyo officially has no comment.

The biggest red flag signaling the demise of Hooters was when they started using paper straws.

Oyo is facing an interesting challenge with the closure of Hooters, as it takes up a substantial part of the casino’s footprint. The remaining dining options are thin at Oyo.

There’s the perpetually mediocre Steak ‘n Shake, the Splash Cantina and Southside Cafe (grab-and-go snacks). That’s it, other than the Underground, where some snack items are available at the casino’s sports bar.

Oyo’s foot traffic has been slammed by the closure of a pedestrian bridge crossing Las Vegas Boulevard from Excalibur. The bridge dumped visitors outside Tropicana, a handful of whom made their way next door to Oyo.

The Trop site, of course, is closed for construction theater as the A’s continue their long con (the ballpark is $1 billion-plus short of funding).

The Oyo, as they say, is scrod.

Hooters always seemed a tad quaint in Las Vegas. What’s racy in middle America is sort of lame in Las Vegas.

Our favorite Hooters sign.

Oyo Las Vegas was once Hooters Hotel & Casino. It was rebranded in 2019 and the Hooters restaurant survived the transition.

The world’s biggest Hooters tanked at Palms in 2017.

Another breastaurant, Twin Peaks, closed at Harmon Corner in 2020. Yes, we used the “goes bust” thing for that headline, too, but that was five years, so cut us some slack, it still holds up. So to speak. Flops?

We quite enjoyed the Hooters at Oyo until the video poker went away.

When we hear what’s replacing it, we’ll keep you abreast of any news.

Yes, at first glance, that joke might seem “lazy” or “hackneyed,” but we prefer to think of it as a deliberate homage to the enduring canon of populist wit in a world where accessibility eclipses originality.

Thanks for the ass-covering, ChatGPT.

Update (8/11/25): We heard from Oyo following our story, in the form of a news release. We are appreciative having received this news releases as it really helps fluff up our story so it appears we did more work than we actually did. The Oyo news release:

“Oyo Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, located just off the iconic Las Vegas Strip, is undertaking a broader modernization initiative to upgrade and reimagine the entire property. As part of these plans, operations at the Hooters restaurant have now stopped, paving the way for a brand-new dining establishment that will soon be revealed. This new venue will form an important part of Oyo’s commitment to enhancing the hotel and casino experience for current and future guests.

“Since assuming asset management of the property in December 2024, Oyo US Inc. has accelerated plans for renovation and improvement and is actively considering further enhancements.

“Oyo has embarked on a comprehensive update of the property as part of its ongoing transformation plans. Work is underway to modernize all three guest elevators, with a focus on significantly increasing their speed, a major improvement aimed at resolving one of the most common guest pain points.

“The hotel has also begun upgrading its central air conditioning system to enhance comfort throughout the property, with room refurbishments scheduled to follow. The swimming pools have been significantly expanded, offering guests a more spacious and enjoyable experience. In addition, the space previously occupied by Hooters will soon be transformed into a brand-new restaurant offering. As part of its long-term vision, Oyo is also exploring options to premiumize the hotel and potentially rebrand the property in the future, while creating experiences that appeal to a more diverse range of guests.

“‘The closure of Hooters at Oyo Hotel & Casino Las Vegas gives us the opportunity to introduce an exciting new restaurant concept, which will bring fresh dining experiences to our guests. This is part of a broader modernization program that includes faster elevators, upgraded air conditioning, and room enhancements, all aimed at improving comfort, convenience, and the overall quality of stay. Our goal is to reimagine the property, so it continues to stand out as a top choice for visitors to the Las Vegas Strip,’ said Nikhil Heda, Head of Development, Oyo US.

“Oyo Hotel and Casino Las Vegas is located at 115 East Tropicana Avenue on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. The hotel has 650 guest rooms, outdoor swimming pools, and a 24-hour fitness centre. The property includes a full-service casino with slot machines, table games, and a William Hill Sports Book. Guests enjoy a variety of dining options, including Steak ‘n Shake and Southside Eatery, a cafe and retail shop offering food from 6 a.m. daily. Splash Cantina serves as a poolside bar, and an underground bar is located on the casino floor. Other amenities include self-parking, complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, accessible facilities, and modern conveniences designed for guest comfort.

“Earlier this year, Hooters of America itself filed for bankruptcy and initiated a transition of company-owned units to franchise groups in 2025, affecting numerous outlets across the country. The company has shut down more than 30 of its locations amid ongoing challenges.”

Key takeaways: 1) Possible rebrand. 2) “Premiumize.” 3) Self-parking is an “amenity.” 4) Oyo is being reimagined. 5) Considering enhancements is the new enhancing. 6) People are really pissed about the elevators at Oyo.