Wing Zone is featured as QSR's feature story in February!

This month, QSR has featured Wing Zone as their cover story. The article discusses Wing Zone's international plans for 2010, and Wing Zone's well thought out business model and strategic international expansion plans.

‘The International Plan’
QSR followed four Wing Zone executives as they took the brand beyond U.S. borders and into Central America. Along the way, the group inked a deal in Asia and found out what it takes to expand a concept into new territories. By Deborah L. Cohen

Population. U.S. proximity. Financing. Footprint. The right partners. Those were just a few of the factors that mid-sized quick serve Wing Zone considered in choosing the first international market to represent its expanding brand.

The founders believed they had just one shot to make their international debut and they wanted to get it right. For years, prospects had approached the fast-growing domestic chain, offering to bring its largely college-oriented take-out concept abroad. But Wing Zone held out, seeking to maximize opportunities at home in a U.S. market that appeared plenty big enough to handle increasing demand for buffalo-style chicken wings. (Read More)

Wing Zone was just recently featured in the Daily Record!

Wing Zone owners hope eatery takes flight

By JANET ESPOSITO • SPECIAL TO PARSIPPANY THIS WEEK • January 6, 2010

It was always Joed Lachica's dream to open his own food place. That dream would become a reality in July 2009 when he would open the Wing Zone in Parsippany. But the journey to get there would be long and not without a life-changing career move in between.

"Having my own food place has always been a dream of mine, and I have always held onto that dream for many years," Lachica said.

Born in the Philippines, Lachica arrived in the United States seven years ago and then jumped right into a job at a TGI Friday in New Jersey. However, the pursuit of restaurant entrepreneurship would have to be put on hold while Lachica attended school to earn a degree in nursing, just in case the food business didn't pan out.

After working as a nurse, Lachica and wife, Catherine, also a nurse, discussed the possibility of starting a restaurant of their own. Their thought was to go franchise. After attending several franchise seminars and training programs, "we narrowed it down to the Wing Zone and another place," Lachica said. (Read More)

Wing Zone was just recently featured on MSN Money!

Texas businessman orders new look for Wing Zone

December 23, 2009 6:18 PM ET

Tricia Lynn Silva

Wing Zone, a take-out/delivery concept hailing from Atlanta, is poised to become a take-out/delivery/dine-in concept in San Antonio.

Brad Meltzer has forged a deal to deliver 10 Wing Zone stores to the San Antonio and Austin markets. Prior to Wing Zone, the Lone Star State resident was responsible for bringing the Benihana restaurant to the Alamo and Capital cities.

As part of Meltzer’s Wing Zone roll out, he plans to add a sit-down restaurant footprint to some of the stores. These locations will feature wait staff, beer and wine and TVs for watching weekend sports. He will add a local feel to the stores — decking them out with Spurs gear in San Antonio, and with University of Texas memorabilia in Austin. (Read More)

Wing Zone was just recently featured in the San Antonio News Express!

Wing Zone to take flight in S.A.

By Joni Simon - Contributing Writer/North Central News

Brad Meltzer has high expectations for a chicken wing franchise he hopes will fly, despite the sluggish economy. The longtime South Texas businessman has just signed a development deal with Wing Zone, which, he said, will take the business to the next level.

The takeout and delivery chicken wing concept now has a recently developed prototype to originate in South and Central Texas. What's new is a wait staff for indoor and patio dining.

The San Antonio restaurants, he said, will have a distinctive regional flavor. Diners can watch the Spurs on large screen televisions as they munch on the wings, paired with local beers and Hill Country wines. Wing Zone also offers salads, grilled sandwiches, burgers and a variety of appetizers.

“We'll have a special French fry that's to die for, onion rings that are delicious and sweet tea,” Meltzer said. “You know how people in South Texas like their tea.”

The first of five initial restaurants opens in May or June of 2010 at Interstate 10 and Callaghan, near Meltzer's Japanese eatery, Benihana. Although he's uncertain at this point where he'll establish the other four, the current real estate market, Meltzer said, is making the site purchases effortless. (Read More)

Wing Zone was recently featured in Chain Leader!

Wing Zone's new loyalty program keeps track of guest purchases and doles out rewards automatically.

By Lisa Bertagnoli, Contributing Editor -- Chain Leader, 11/1/2009

Wing Zone's new loyalty program keeps track of guest purchases and doles out rewards automatically.

Fans of Atlanta-based restaurant chain Wing Zone no longer have to worry about getting a card punched to redeem their frequent-diner points. The chain's POS system does the math for them.

The chain's new Loyalty Zone, launched earlier this year, keeps track of customer purchases. When they order five times, they automatically get $5 off their order. "The receipt lets them know where they stand," says Adam Scott, chief financial officer at the 100-unit, quick-service chain. "They get to their reward pretty quickly." (Read More)

Wing Zone was just featured in MSN Money!

Central Texas entrepreneur to open 10 Austin Wing Zone restaurants
December 11, 2009 3:03 PM ET

Successful franchisor and former construction entrepreneur Brad Meltzer signed a deal to open 10 Wing Zone stores in Austin.

The self-proclaimed “authority of sauce and ambassadors of flavor” restaurants specialize in carry-out and delivery of 15 varieties of chicken wings, but the local business developer will expand the brand to include beer, wine and table service. (Read More)