Tacos & Tequila Cantina in 2025 is coming to the Tampa Bay area by way of a licensing deal with HMC Hospitality Group, the company behind the area Hooters.
The Tex-Mex restaurant, which has four locations across Naples and Estero, has its eyes initially set on Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, all the way up to The Villages, according to an announcement this week from HMC.
Restauranter Kelly Musico founded Tacos & Tequila Cantina in 2013 alongside husband Aldo. In addition to the licensing deal with HCM, Musico is looking toward Southwest Florida for expansion.
“Partnering with Kelly and Aldo was a no-brainer to continue to grow our portfolio beyond the Hooters brand,” HMC Hospitality Group Chief Development Officer Bill Moore said in a prepared statement. “We have similar company values and commitment to providing the ultimate customer experience through quality food and a fun atmosphere. We look forward to emulating their success throughout the Tampa Bay area and Central Florida and working together for many years to come.”
HMC Hospitality Group has been a mainstay in the area for 40 years, getting its start as Hooters Management Corp. in Clearwater in 1983. Across Tampa Bay and the Chicago area, HMC owns and operates 22 Hooters Restaurants. The company also has three locations of the Hooters-spin-off Hoots in Chicago.
It’s unclear where exactly HMC will open its first Tacos & Tequila Cantina nor did the statement reveal how many locations the company could open across the region in total.
