“Learning can appear in unexpected places, and sometimes Duo will too,” the brand said in a statement.
Duolingo is now available at Hooters stores
Duolingo took over the space occupied by another owl mascot and posted “coming soon” banners at four shuttered Hooters locations.
Duolingo is back to its antics once again, this time taking over the space previously occupied by another owl mascot.
Language learning platform Duolingo has posted “Coming Soon” banners at four closed Hooters restaurants across the country. The brand has not disclosed its plans for the closed restaurant, but residents have shared their speculations on social media.
In a statement obtained by USA TODAY, the brand said, “The duo has always had a flair for drama. When he spotted an empty nest across the country, he did what any overly ambitious owl would do: leave a few feathers behind and see who would notice.” “Learning can appear in unexpected places, and Duo is no different.”
Although unconfirmed, some social media users are speculating that the sign is for an expansion of Duo’s Taqueria, a Mexican restaurant owned by Duolingo in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Conveniently located near Duolingo’s headquarters, this restaurant opened in 2023 and has become a local favorite, appearing on several lists for the city’s best tacos in Pittsburgh.
‘From hooters to tutors’: social media influences
However, some people are just getting in on the Duolingo fun.
“From Hooters to tutors,” one Reddit user said on the Galveston, Texas, subreddit.
“Next time Hooters will remember to complete the daily lesson,” another user said on the St. Louis subreddit.
Hooters’ installation feels like an ode to the brand’s meme-filled year.
Duolingo scared some users in February by teasing that its iconic owl mascot, Duo, had died mysteriously, but within a week the brand admitted that the death was a joke. The prank served as a global campaign, pitting different countries against each other to see who could earn the most in-app points to save Duo.
This summer, Hooters closed more than 30 stores in more than a dozen states. The closures come after Hooters agreed to sell 151 company-owned stores to a franchise group to settle $376 million in debt. The chain has had its stores closed since at least 2024, even though the company has said it plans to keep its doors open.
Where will Duolingo take over the closed Hooters?
As confirmed by the brand in a statement obtained by USA TODAY, Duolingo’s temporary locations are located at:
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Beaumont, Texas
- Galveston, Texas
How long will Duolingo be installed at Hooters?
Duolingo told USA TODAY on Wednesday, Dec. 10, that the facility will be open to the public for a “limited time.”
Contributed by Mary Walrath-Holdridge and James Powel, USA TODAY
Greta Cross is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Story ideas? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
