Fans of hot wings, draft beers and waitresses in tight orange shorts could be getting a gift for the new year: a Hooters bar and grill in Lawrence.

The Atlanta-based restaurant chain’s monthslong search for commercial space in Lawrence is leading to speculation a deal is coming soon.

Calls to Hooters of America Inc.’s corporate offices have not been returned, but owners of some prospective Hooters sites say they’ve been contacted about possibilities — especially downtown.

Among the potential sites: 815 N.H., a restaurant-and-bar property purchased this month for $800,000 by Downtown 2004 L.C., which paid nearly double the appraised value set by the Douglas County Appraiser’s Office.

“I think they’ve looked, I think they’ve looked at other spots downtown and I think they’re continuing to look,” said Doug Compton, a member of Downtown 2004. Compton has ownership interests in nine other buildings downtown.

He declined to say when or whether his group might secure a deal to accommodate a Hooters.

Tim Fritzel, with a group that owns vacant commercial space at 643 Mass., said Hooters checked out the former home of Eddie Bauer in August.

“We considered it, and we declined to entertain their offer to lease the space,” said Fritzel, who lost Eddie Bauer last year. “They were willing to pay a nice, reasonable amount of money. I think they were looking pretty hard — and they’re a good company. It’s just pretty much the stigma associated with their name.

“Their marketing department has overcome that stigma in other markets, and I’m sure they can do that here.”

Hooters of America Inc. founders Ed Droste, left, and Dennis Johnson celebrated the company's 20th anniversary last year in the original restaurant in Clearwater, Fla. The chain, which now has more than 375 restaurants worldwide, is checking into sites for a potential restaurant in Lawrence.

Hooters of America Inc. is the operator and franchiser of more than 375 Hooters locations in 46 states, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, England, Guatemala, Mexico, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Taipei and Venezuela. The privately held corporation owns 118 units.

It has restaurants in Overland Park, Olathe and Kansas City, Mo., plus two in Wichita.

Bo Harris, a member of the group that sold 815 N.H. to Lawrence 2004, said Lawrence would be a logical expansion given the city’s growing population and standing as home to Kansas University. Several other cities with universities in the Big 12 Conference already have Hooters: Austin, Texas, has three, while Lincoln, Neb., and Lubbock, Texas, each have one location.

“It’s a successful chain, and I think it’d be a solid tenant for the property,” Harris said.