Who Owns Hooters?
Updated onExplore the ownership hierarchy of Hooters. See parent companies, holding structures, and ultimate controllers.
Ownership Chain
Hooters
Hooters is a privately owned American casual dining and sports bar restaurant chain, founded in 1983, best known for its chicken wings, Hooters Girls waitstaff, and franchised locations worldwide.
HMC Hospitality Group
HMC Hospitality Group is a privately held restaurant company, originally founded as Hooters Management Corp. in 1983, that operates the Original Hooters restaurants and related quick-service concepts such as Hoots Wings across markets including Tampa Bay and Chicago.
Hooters
Hooters is a privately owned American casual dining and sports bar restaurant chain, founded in 1983, best known for its chicken wings, Hooters Girls waitstaff, and franchised locations worldwide.
HMC Hospitality Group
HMC Hospitality Group is a privately held restaurant company, originally founded as Hooters Management Corp. in 1983, that operates the Original Hooters restaurants and related quick-service concepts such as Hoots Wings across markets including Tampa Bay and Chicago.
Major Shareholders
Hooters
Major Shareholders
| Name | Type | Ownership | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
Hooters Inc. ("Original Hooters") Controlling corporate owner of the Hooters restaurant chain following its founder-led acquisition of Hooters of America, LLC, which closed on October 31, 2025 and was announced in a November 3, 2025 press release stating that Original Hooters has finalized its historic acquisition and taken back full ownership of HOA. | Corporate | — | Oct 2025 |
Hoot Owl Restaurants, LLC Large franchisee and co-investor in the 2025 founder-led buyer group that acquired a broad portfolio of Hooters of America restaurant assets and assumed a leadership role in the brand’s future development; together with Hooters Inc. it owns and operates about 140 of 198 domestic Hooters restaurants after the October 31, 2025 closing. Public sources describe Hoot Owl as a key partner in the acquisition and post‑restructuring ownership structure, but do not disclose its exact equity percentage in the parent entity. | Corporate | — | Oct 2025 |
HMC Hospitality Group
Major Shareholders
| Name | Type | Ownership | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
L.D. Stewart One of the original six Hooters founders (“Hooters Six”). Media reports in March 2025 state that HMC Hospitality Group is owned by the six founders of the Hooters brand; exact individual equity stakes are not publicly disclosed. | Individual | — | Mar 2025 |
Gil DiGiannantonio Original Hooters founder and long‑time principal of the Original Hooters/HMC group. Listed as an officer/director of HMC Hospitality Group Inc. and identified in 2025 coverage as part of the six‑founder ownership group; specific percentage ownership is not public. | Individual | — | Mar 2025 |
Billy Ranieri Often referred to as “Uncle Billy” Ranieri; one of the six original Hooters founders. Included in the founder group reported in 2025 as owning HMC Hospitality Group; exact ownership share not disclosed. | Individual | — | Mar 2025 |
Ed Droste Original Hooters founder and long‑time owner/operator in the Clearwater group. Public corporate records list him as a director of related entities, and 2025 media describe HMC as owned by the six founders; no detailed cap‑table information is public. | Individual | — | Mar 2025 |
Dennis Johnson One of the six original Hooters founders and part of the Clearwater founding group behind HMC Hospitality Group. Reported as part of the six‑founder ownership group as of March 2025; specific equity percentage not disclosed. | Individual | — | Mar 2025 |
Ken Wimmer Original Hooters founder (partner with L.D. Stewart) and member of the “Hooters Six.” Included in the six‑founder group described in 2025 reporting as owning HMC Hospitality Group; individual ownership and voting percentages are not publicly available. | Individual | — | Mar 2025 |
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