Hooters is the trade name of two restaurant chains, Hooters of America, Inc based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and Hooters, Inc., based in Clearwater, Florida. Between company owned locations, and franchisees, there are now over 350 Hooters restaurants, in 46 US states, plus 13 other countries, including Canada, Mexico, and Singapore - its first overseas location to open. The chain began operations on October 4, 1983 with a restaurant in Clearwater, Florida, and is still privately held.