Scrape away all the misjudgments by management, perhaps they expanded into areas that were unwise, like the Airline, but the real reason Hooters went into decline is political correctness.
Men suing because they didn’t get jobs as a Hooters Waitress and ugly feminists who wished they were getting leered at have all contributed to the decline.
It’s now nearly a criminal act to leer at a hot woman in orange shorts and tank top.
I used to travel for business to Tampa nearly every week back in the 80s, I’ve been to the original Hooters many times, the first Hooters outside of the Tampa area is still in operation in Jacksonville which I’ve also been to countless times.
I went to the one in Coconut Grove.. Wish I had never left :D