Mysterious Duolingo signs have been popping up at closed Hooters restaurants across the United States, leading to a number of theories about what they mean.
Back in March, Hooters filed for bankruptcy in the United States, leaving the iconic chicken wing joint to close around 50 stores across the nation. Some restaurants have been saved and repurposed as other brands, while others have been left sitting dormant, keeping their Hooters signage up.
However, with the end of the year coming fast, four restaurants have had ‘coming soon’ signs from Duolingo put up outside. These are situated in St. Louis, Missouri, Charlotte, North Carolina, Beaumont, Texas, and Galveston, Texas.
The signs have sparked plenty of intrigue, prompting some passers-by to take a closer look at the St Louis location. Inside, a small Duo can be seen wearing a construction hat, and he’s got a checklist of things too, including: Hire loyal henchmen to enact masterplan.
Why are there Duolingo signs at Hooters?
According to Duolingo, the banner is only a “temporary” installation at the vacant building, but they wouldn’t divulge any further details.
“Duo has always had a flair for drama. When he spotted empty nests around the country, he did what any overly ambitious owl might do: leave a few feathers and see who noticed,” they told Fox 2 in St Louis.
Some Duolingo users have noted, however, that it could be linked to their Duo’s Taqueria restaurant, which is situated in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The taco joint is close to Duo’s headquarters, and has proven to be pretty popular with residents. In true Duolingo fashion, customers are encouraged to practice their Spanish when they order, which is a little easier than being shouted at by an app every day.
As they note themselves, Duolingo does have a history of creative advertisements, and they recently teamed up with Genshin Impact for rewards.
