Some folks just don’t like guns. I get that.
In this situation, police-grade pepper spray would have been a lot better than nothing. Sabre is a good brand. So is Fox. Both are available on Amazon, and are legal in all states (last time I checked, anyway).
Some states do have size restrictions on pepper spray, though.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/pepper-spray-laws-by-state
Hooters is a 51% establishment meaning the majority of their revenue comes from alcohol sales. IIRC it is a crime to carry a gun, and a number of self defense tools (pepper spray, asps, certain knives) into such establishments in Texas.