History and culture
Hooters started with one Clearwater restaurant
The first Hooters opened in Clearwater in 1983, giving Pinellas County a recognizable restaurant-chain origin story.
Hooters is not everyone’s taste. The origin story is still a Clearwater business story.
In 1983, six businessmen in Clearwater opened the first restaurant after, by their own telling, having no restaurant experience. The idea mixed wings, beer, sports TV, beach-bar jokes, and a brand voice that felt very 1980s.
That first location at 2800 Gulf to Bay Boulevard gives Clearwater a place in a national restaurant-chain story. You do not have to love the concept to see the Florida pattern. A casual local experiment can grow far past its first address.
It also fits a very Florida kind of roadside history. A big sign, a busy road, beach-area traffic, sports on TV, and a loose joke all met in one place. Then the brand traveled.
If you visit, check the current hours for the original location and keep the story simple. This is restaurant history, not a whole lesson in Florida culture. It is one odd, recognizable piece of Clearwater’s business map.
Where to see it
The original Hooters area at 2800 Gulf to Bay Boulevard in Clearwater. Check current hours and location details before visiting.
Official sources
Last checked against these sources: July 1, 2026.