SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - The City of Springfield continued to mourn the passing of chef and restaurateur Wayne Hooker. Western Mass News stopped by some local restaurants on Wednesday evening and heard from businesses about the legacy their colleague leaves behind.

Earlier on Wednesday, the restaurant took to Facebook that said, “The staff at Mamou would like to thank you all for your continued support and understanding during this difficult time. The restaurant will be closed on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, and will resume normal hours on Thursday, November 13, 2025, beginning with lunch service. We will continue to bring you the very best Mamou has to offer, because that is exactly what Chef Wayne would want us to do.”

Hooker was a well-known Springfield chef and restaurateur. He ran the long-standing “Big Mamou” restaurant, located on Liberty Street in Springfield for over two decades. The restaurant, known for its lively atmosphere, southern hospitality, and Cajun cuisine.

While the restaurant’s original Liberty Street location closed in 2020, Chef Wayne’s legacy is now being carried on by new restaurant, the Mamou, located here on Worthington Street in Springfield.

We spoke with owner and manager of Red Rose Pizzeria, Rita Caputo Capua. She told Western Mass News that Chef Wayne was not only a great chef, but a great man, and said his loss is being felt throughout the entire local restaurant industry.

“Always had a smile on his face and I really think it’s come as a shock to a lot of people in this industry. We frequented his restaurant quite a bit, he frequented here quite a bit, he loved Italian food we loved Cajun food and he’s really going to be missed,” Rita said.

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