The long-quiet Hooters at 1201 W Osceola Parkway in Kissimmee is headed for demolition, clearing the way for a national burger chain to move in. The freestanding restaurant has sat empty since Hooters shut the doors during companywide cutbacks last year. The property sits on a high-traffic stretch of Osceola Parkway that pulls in both neighborhood regulars and out-of-towners, which makes it prime real estate for quick-service players.
According to the Orlando Business Journal, the owner and leasing team plan to knock down the former Hooters building and clear the pad for a national burger concept. The incoming tenant has not been publicly identified, and the demolition is described as part of an early repositioning strategy for the site.
Redevelopment Details
Commercial listings describe 1201 W Osceola Parkway as a former restaurant ready for a new tenant. The TenantBase entry pegs the building at about 7,240 square feet and notes a Retail Property Advisors broker on the deal. TenantBase also plays up the location’s proximity to big-box anchors in the nearby Osceola Corporate Center, a selling point for national brands. Lot dimensions and tax information for the pad and its surrounding parcel are outlined on public property pages such as Compass.
Where This Fits Locally
Hooters shut down roughly 30 company-owned restaurants after filing for Chapter 11 protection in 2025, and the Osceola Parkway store was among the Central Florida locations that went dark in that retrenchment. The chain’s restructuring, with a pivot toward a franchise-heavy model, left several freestanding buildings like this one open for new uses. ClickOrlando detailed the closures and the company’s statements at the time.
What Neighbors Can Expect
Leasing materials and local coverage indicate the property owner is courting a well-known quick-service burger operator, but there is nothing public yet on a finalized lease, demolition permits, or a construction schedule. In other words, visible work on the corner will depend on how quickly permits move and how fast the franchise build-out comes together. Hooters’ own store locator has historically listed a Kissimmee East restaurant at the Osceola Parkway address that is now being marketed to new tenants. Hooters.
The site is likely to draw attention from residents and commuters along Osceola Parkway as permits are filed and a new tenant is announced. We will be watching public records for a confirmed demolition date and the reveal of which burger brand lands on the former Hooters pad.
