Hooters Won’t Open Next to Harley-Davidson on Wesley Chapel Blvd., County Confirms

WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — The planned Hooters restaurant at 25245 Wesley Chapel Blvd. next to the Harley-Davidson dealership is no longer moving forward, Pasco County confirmed this week. The county told the Tampa Bay Beacons the property owner’s representative doesn’t intend to resubmit and advance the project.

What Happened

The county’s confirmation came just days after planners said the project was still in site review and awaiting responses to requested revisions. Signs at the site are down, but Hooters’ website still lists the Wesley Chapel restaurant as “coming soon.”

The Wesley Chapel Loop reported earlier this month that the Hooters billboard had been replaced with a Harley-Davidson billboard and a “For Lease” sign had appeared. The company told the Loop the location would no longer move forward. Hooters didn’t respond to the Loop’s question about another Wesley Chapel location.

Background

HMC Hospitality Group, the original Hooters founders, announced the restaurant in October 2024. It was planned as a 4,500-square-foot restaurant with an outdoor patio and about 60 jobs, and would have been the third Hooters in Pasco County. It was first targeted for summer 2025, and a company spokesperson said in June 2025 it was “coming soon” for fall. According to the Beacons, construction never began in earnest.

Hooters of America filed for bankruptcy in March 2025. HMC and its partners later acquired control of the larger chain, and the new ownership has closed numerous restaurants, including several in Florida this month. CEO Neil Kiefer has said the closures involve underperforming locations. Whether the restructuring played a role in the Wesley Chapel decision is unclear.

📍 25245 Wesley Chapel Blvd., next to Harley-Davidson, Wesley Chapel/Lutz area, FL 

📅 County confirmation reported Oct. 26, 2026 

🌐 Sources: Tampa Bay Beacons; The Wesley Chapel Loop