Mysterious Duolingo signs pop up at closed Hooters restaurants

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People have been noticing strange Duolingo signs appearing at former Hooters locations around the US, and everyone is trying to figure out why.

In March, Hooters filed for bankruptcy in the US, leading to the closure of about 50 locations nationwide. While some of these restaurants have been taken over and rebranded, others remain closed but still display Hooters signs.

As the year draws to a close, Duolingo is hinting at new locations with ‘coming soon’ signs posted outside four restaurants. These spots are in St. Louis, Missouri; Charlotte, North Carolina; Beaumont, Texas; and Galveston, Texas.

Okay, so I walked by the St. Louis location and noticed some seriously weird stuff going on. There’s this little Duo guy inside, wearing a hard hat, and he’s got a whole to-do list. The first thing on it? Apparently, he’s hiring henchmen to pull off some big plan. It’s definitely got me curious!

inside you there are two owls @hooters

— Duolingo (@duolingo) December 11, 2025

Why are there Duolingo signs at Hooters? 

Duolingo says the sign is just up for a short time at the empty building, but they haven’t shared any other information about it.

Duo is known for being a bit of a showman. When he found some abandoned bird nests, he playfully left a few feathers nearby to see if anyone would take notice, according to a report from Fox 2 in St. Louis.

Some Duolingo users have suggested a connection to Duo’s Taqueria, a restaurant located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The taco place near Duolingo’s offices has become a local favorite. And, fitting with Duolingo’s style, customers are encouraged to practice their Spanish while ordering – a welcome change from being corrected by an app!

Duolingo is known for its imaginative ads, and recently partnered with the game Genshin Impact to offer rewards to users.

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2025-12-12 14:19