After 35 years of wings, game days and loyal customers, Hooters has closed its River North restaurant. The location at 660 N. Wells St., which opened in 1991, ended service October 18.
A notice posted at the restaurant said its lease was ending. In a statement to NBC Chicago, a Hooters spokesperson also pointed to changes in the surrounding neighborhood.
“Increasing development and neighborhood changes have transformed the area, leading us to the difficult but considered decision to leave this location,” the spokesperson said.
What happened to the building?
The closure comes about a year after the property changed hands, according to Block Club Chicago, which cited Cook County records, the building sold for approximately $4.1 million in October 2025 to GW Wells LLC.
Are there other Hooters locations in Chicago?
The River North closure doesn’t mean the chain is leaving the Chicago area entirely. Hooters still lists its location near O’Hare at 8225 W. Higgins Road, while its takeout-focused sister concept, Hoots Wings, has a South Loop location at 1238 S. Canal St.
