Sometimes small businesses become staples of their community. They can be places for people to gather after a tragedy, or places where people gather to celebrate special occasions. Or they could be a Hooters.



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Distraught residents of Kanawha City, West Virginia, have planned a candlelight vigil for its Hooters on February 23rd ahead of its scheduled demolition on the 26th.


The Facebook event description for the vigil, clearly written by someone nursing some serious heartbreak, reads: “It’s finally official. We have all in one way shape or form been holding on to pure hope that someone would purchase the closed building down that once was the almighty H00ters and reopen it. That seems to not be the case. The building will begin being demoed on Feb 26th. 2024. With this being said, let’s all gather in remembrance of the amazing power that was brought to us all by H00ters with a Candle Light Visual at the Kanawha City Location. Bring your candles and signs and lets let H00ters and the city know we will miss it tremendously. We will have Chicken wings with the traditional H00ters sauce on site and a limited amount of the GOAT SANDWICH ‘The Strip Cheese.’ Please share and be there, ‘Every Hour is Happy Hour at H00ters.’”


More than 400 people have expressed interest in attending the vigil, although it remains to be seen how many will actually turn up. The discussion page is filled with people memorializing the restaurant, sharing some fascinating fond memories of the eatery.


One commenter wrote, “I once saw a dude snort a line of black pepper on a dare at this Hooter’s. RIP.” Another opined, “I will miss you Strip cheese sandwich with 911 sauce. I will miss you college girls with dyed blonde hair that is ‘working’ her way through college at UC. I will miss you Mr. Manager that was arbitrarily ‘let go’ and not fired for unwanted sexual advances. Most of all, I will miss you the big round table that wobbles and pours my beer out when I sit it down.”


Word on the street (aka the Facebook discussion page) is that Hooters is making way for a Sheetz convenience store, with construction set to start later this year. One commenter, failing to read the room, excitedly wrote, “Yay! Sheetz is coming soon!!!,” but they appear to be the only person celebrating the news.


Unfortunately for these mourners, the Kanawha City Hooters was the last Hooters in West Virginia. If they want their fix of wings and buxom waitresses, they’re going to have to make a pilgrimage to Cincinnati or Johnson City, Tennessee.