Hooters Of Farmingdale Closes, Former Workers Reflect On 'Sisterhood'

FARMINGDALE, NY — Although Hooters in Farmingdale has officially shut its doors on Monday, former coworkers are sharing how their friendships with one another will last a lifetime.

The Farmingdale location opened in 2010 and was the last Hooters on Long Island. They announced the restaurant's closure in an Instagram post, sharing a message:

"After much deliberation, we’ve made the difficult decision to close this location. We are incredibly grateful for the many years of great times, cold beer, hot wings, and unforgettable memories shared here. Thank you to our guests, team members, and community for the support over the years."

Hooters of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in March 2025, and they closed multiple locations across the U.S. Hooters was not immediately available for comment when Patch reached out.

Patch spoke with multiple workers, and whether they have been working there for nearly 3 years or 13 years, they all agreed on one thing – they were family.

North Babylon resident Katrina Aird was a bartender at Hooters for 13 years, since it opened, and said she grew up in the establishment, both personally and professionally. From her first day, the management team pushed her to step outside her comfort zone to take on new responsibilities, develop leadership and communication skills, and grow as a person.

"Because of that support, I gained confidence, resilience, and lifelong personal skills that extend far beyond the restaurant industry," Aird said. "For 13 years, Hooters was more than just a workplace; it was my home and my community."

She said that over the many years, their regular customers became more than just familiar faces: "They became friends. We celebrated milestones together, shared stories, and built genuine connections that made coming to work something I truly looked forward to."

With her girls, it was just as special.

"We always had each other’s backs, supported one another during busy shifts, and created a sisterhood that made even the toughest days manageable," she said.

The Hooters workers had the opportunity to attend many events, and Aird said some of her favorites were participating in bus tub races and hula hooping in front of the restaurant to bring in guests.

"We embraced the energy and spirit that made Hooters unique," she said.

Aird also had the honor of competing in the Miss Hooters International Pageant in 2018 and 2019. She was crowned "Miss September" in the International Hooters Calendar in 2018.

After COVID-19, Aird said the workers began noticing significant changes in Hooters, as well as the restaurant industry. They noticed their once-busy lunch crowd had steadily declined as more people began working from home, and even promotions like their once-popular all-you-can-eat wing specials weren't making as large an impact as they used to. She said despite this, her team remained strong – the girls worked hard to succeed and support each other.

The workers said that they weren't notified in advance about the restaurant's closing. A few of the workers noted that there were rumors and chatter about the location closing, but not this suddenly. One worker said she was scheduled for a Monday lunch shift behind the bar and was called early that morning to tell her not to get ready because the restaurant wouldn't be opening. She said it was unfortunate that the rumors became true.

"It felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me," Aird said. "I don’t know if a slower transition would have made it easier. I think it would have hurt just the same. Losing something that has been such a big part of your life for over a decade is never easy. Hooters will always hold a special place in my heart. I loved our staff, our guests, and everything the experience gave me. No matter what happens next, the Hooters team will always be my family."

Smithtown resident Liana Friedman had been working at the Farmingdale location for 5.5 years, since she was 18 years old. She held many positions over the years, including bartender, waitress, certified Hooters trainer, promotional model, and 2022 International Hooters Calendar Girl.

Friedman said that every shift had a strong group of regulars, and these loyal customers made it feel like she was walking into a familiar and fun place each time. Along with the customers, she said the women she met at Hooters became her forever friends, and a few of the girls "were even part of my wedding."

Friedman added: "It was a workplace that celebrated femininity and confidence."

While traveling, Friedman said she has visited more than 10 locations and will keep the tradition alive in the future.

"Hooters will always be part of my story," she said. "While it’s sad to see it go, I’m also excited for new ventures, and I’m thankful for everything I got to be part of. I’m genuinely grateful for my time there; the people, the memories, and the community meant a lot."

Crystal Koliner of Kings Park was a server and bartender at the Farmingdale location for 5 years, since she was 18 years old. In just five years, she said she has grown so much and gained an incredible amount of knowledge and confidence – Hooters shaped who she is today.

Koliner said she will never forget all of the customers she's met over the years and the stories they told her. She said they all knew that one day, Hooters would close, but she didn't expect it so soon – her manager was discussing plans for the restaurant.

"I was supposed to work the day it happened," Koliner said. "It was a surprise to us all. I always looked forward to walking in and hugging my coworkers and filling each other in on our lives."

Along the way, Koliner made lifelong friends whom she considers family.

"I know I’ll always have my Hooters family, no matter where our lives go, we’ll always remember what we had," she said. "It’s unfortunate that it’s the end of this era."

Amanda Sohl was a waitress for 2.5 years at Hooters and agreed with her coworkers and friends that the restaurant shaped her.

"Hooters Farmingdale was more than my first serving job," she said. "To me, it was a place where I made lifelong friendships, gained confidence, and grew both personally and professionally. The women I worked beside became my sisters."

Sohl said she took pride in working alongside her coworkers.

"We worked as a team during long shifts, celebrated birthdays together, and built friendships beyond just the restaurant."

A special memory of hers, she said, centers on when she and several other Hooters workers traveled to a coworker's hometown in Guatemala to experience her culture and community firsthand.

"That trip showed me that what we built wasn’t just a workplace bond, but a real, lasting friendship," she said. "I’ll always be grateful for that chapter and the people it brought into my life."