Restaurant winging its way to Stockton

Wing Zone were recently featured in Recordnet.com in an article titled, "Restaurant winging its way to Stockton". The article talks about how Franchisees Kristie and Werner Ehler plan to open the first California franchise of Wing Zone in August. You can read the entire article by clicking here or below.

"Restaurant winging its way to Stockton"
By The Record

Hoping to bring something a little different to chicken wings restaurants, Stockton residents Kristie and Werner Ehlers plan to open the first California franchise of the Wing Zone chain in August.

Kristie Ehlers, who previously had an interest in the Wingstop restaurant in north Stockton, as well as Fat Daddies on March Lane, said the couple was looking for a new venture and liked the idea of finding another that specialized in the various types chicken wings.

You can read the full article here.

Starting a Restaurant? Head Back to School

Wing Zone were recently featured in an article on Web.com titled, "Starting a Restaurant? Head Back to School". The article, a new restaurant trend series on Web.com, focused on the trend of opening restaurants on college campuses to have built in business and employees. Wing Zone's CEO Matt Friedman talks about the advantages of being located on or near a college campus. You can read the article here or begin below.


"Starting a Restaurant? Head Back to School"
By Rieva Lesonsky

Thinking of starting a restaurant? College campuses are proving profitable for these three concepts.

Winging It

Millennials have changed their dining-out habits - and it's not good news for restaurant owners. According to a study by research group NPD, younger Millennials (ages 18 to 24) "made 27 fewer visits (per person) to restaurants between 2009 and 2012," though this has ticked up a bit in the last two years.

There are a few bright spots, however. The first is in the fast-casual sector, where fresh food and friendly services are attracting younger Millennials.

Another positive sign can be seen on college campuses. If you own a restaurant (or want to) you might think a campus location is the last place you'd want to be. After all, how much can students spend on food?

For Matt Friedman, the CEO of Wing Zone, who co-founded the chain in a fraternity house at the University of Florida, being located on or near a college campus is smart business. There are currently 14 "college" Wing Zones, with plans "to open at least 10 more within the next 18 months."

Wing Zones on campus (and the company's military locations) are, says Friedman, "the best performers within our system" with average ticket prices the same as non-college locations.

Click here to read the entire article.

Wing Zone in the San Antonio Express-News

Wing Zone were recently featured in an article in The San Antonio Express-News titled, "A Conversation with...Irfan Mohammed of Wing Zone." The article surrounds Irfan Mohammed's entrepreneurial background in the chicken wing industry, his new Wing Zone opening in San Antonio, and the brands unique concept. He discusses what differentiates the brand from competitors, and his future expansion plans for the area. Click here to read the article or begin below.

"A Conversation with...Irfan Mohammed of Wing Zone"
By Burt Henry



SAN ANTONIO - Irfan Mohammed is counting down the days for his first customer to walk through the doors of the newest Wing Zone in San Antonio. At this point, all he can hope for is making sure those doors can actually open. Click here to read the entire article.

Wing Zone flies into St. Louis Market

Wing Zone were recently featured in an article in the St. Louis Business Journal titled, "Wing Zone flies into St. Louis market." The article, featuring our own Matt Friedman discusses the history behind the Wing Zone concept and the steps needed to open a franchise with Wing Zone. St. Louis' newest (and first) Wing Zone is owned by Roya Moshiri and her husband Monte Dover and the article also discusses their experience in the Franchise industry. Click here to read the article or begin below.

"Wing Zone flies into St. Louis market"
By E.B. Solomont

Is there a chicken war brewing? 

Wing Zone, a restaurant concept based in Atlanta, is set to open its first St. Louis location next month, just weeks after Raising Cane's debuted its first stand-along store in the area, located in Des Peres less than a half-mile from Chick-fil-A.

The Wing Zone restaurant will be located at 1643 S. Jefferson Ave., in a shopping center that was redeveloped by Green Street St. Louis for $8 million. (The Jefferson Commons shopping center is also home to a new Save-A-Lot, which opened last week.)

In an increasingly crowded chicken field, Wing Zone bills itself as a fast-casual, cook-to-order concept. Most of its business is takeout, but for customers who stay and eat, servers bring the food to their tables. 

"People want the quality of a sit-down restaurant but want the value of a lower price," said CEO Matt Friedman, who co-founded the company as a college student.

Click here to read the entire article. 

Dining boom: Georgia-based chains spreading wings - Wing Zone featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution

Wing Zone were recently featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution in an article titled, "Dining boom: Georgia-based chains spreading wings". The article is based on an interview between our very own CEO and co-founder Matt Friedman and Business Reporter, Leon Stafford. The article discusses Georgia-based chains expanding as a result of the upswing in the economy. Matt Friedman discusses the process of bringing in franchisees. He also touches on the benefits of franchisees helping their portfolio with more experience. Click here to read the article or begin below.

"Dining boom: Georgia-based chains spreading wings"
By Leon Stafford

If you've noticed Zaxby's or Moe's Southwest Grill restaurants popping up faster than the weeds in your backyard due to our overabundance of rain lately, your eyes are not deceiving you.

After several years of moderate to almost no growth in the industry, operators of several Georgia-based restaurant chains say they are on an expansion roll this year, with many concepts adding double digit locations. Zaxby's and Moe's alone will open 50 and 65 restaurants this year respectively.

Click here to read the entire article.

Wing Zone on ChicagoGrid.com

Wing Zone were recently featured in an article in ChicagoGrid.com (Chicago Sun-Times) titled, "Prepare for Carnage, Wing Zone is coming to Chicago". The article, which can be found here, announces the multi-unit deal signed by local entrepreneur Amyn Ali. The article provides information about the opening pipeline and the growth opportunity for the Chicagoland market. The article can be found here or you can begin below.

"Prepare For Carnage, Wing Zone is Coming to Chicago"
By Madeline Skaggs




The owner of several Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins isn't chicken about bringing a new chain to town.

Amyn Ali recently signed a deal with Georgia-bases Wing Zone to open 14 Chicago-area locations by 2020. The first location is slated for Bolingbrook in August, with plans for a second on the South Side, at 87th and Wood, shortly after. The remaining 12 store locations have yet to be determined.

Wing Zone opened in 1991 and now has nearly 100 locations worldwide. The model, which has 60 to 65 percent of sales coming from drive-thru and takeout orders, has little competition in the Chicago market.


Click here to read the entire article.