Wet Willie's
Wet Willie's is a privately held frozen daiquiri bar and restaurant chain founded in 1988, operating 9 franchise and corporate locations across 6 US coastal and entertainment states, selling proprietary 15+ flavor daiquiris, food, and branded merchandise to tourist and local consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersSavannah, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Wet Willie's does
Wet Willie's is a privately held frozen daiquiri bar and restaurant company founded in 1988 in Savannah, Georgia, with the first location opening in 1990. The company operates a portfolio of 9 retail locations across 6 US states (New Jersey, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida), concentrated in high-traffic tourist and entertainment districts including Atlantic City Boardwalk, Savannah River Street, South Beach's Art Deco District, Myrtle Beach's Broadway at the Beach, and Memphis's Beale Street. The company also runs an e-commerce storefront and operates a franchise model with independently owned locations.
The company's core product is a proprietary system of 15+ frozen daiquiri flavors using premium rum and proprietary ingredient combinations, with trademarked signature drinks including Call A Cab, Attitude Improvement, Shock Treatment, and the Global Cooler at-home mix line. Each location offers a food menu featuring bar classics (wings, burgers, sandwiches) alongside regional specialties (shrimp and grits, Baja tacos, Southern fried fish). The underlying 'technology' is primarily operational — frozen blending systems and proprietary flavor recipes — rather than software or AI-driven.
Wet Willie's generates revenue through four primary streams: in-store food and beverage sales at physical locations (primary), e-commerce merchandise sales (Global Cooler mixes, apparel, koozies, mural cups, rain ponchos), digital and physical gift cards, and franchise fees from independently owned operators. The company markets through organic social media (Facebook, Instagram), the ToastTab online ordering platform, the Cool Rewards loyalty program (1 point per $1 spent), and community sponsorships. Customer segments are predominantly consumer-facing: social/entertainment seekers, event bookers for private parties, and at-home merchandise consumers — with no enterprise B2B customer base. The business serves a primarily tourist and local nightlife demographic with no disclosed external investment, funding rounds, or M&A activity.
Wet Willie's firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wet Willie's
- Legal name
- Wet Willie's
- Website
- https://wetwillies.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Wet Willie's is a privately held frozen daiquiri bar and restaurant chain founded in 1988, operating 9 franchise and corporate locations across 6 US coastal and entertainment states, selling proprietary 15+ flavor daiquiris, food, and branded merchandise to tourist and local consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wet Willie's industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Casual Dining & Frozen Beverage Bar
- NAICS
- Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (72241)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Beverages (2080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Alcoholic Beverage Mixers & Cocktail Ingredients Brands (Non-alcoholic) (CRADAIAH)
Keywords
Where Wet Willie's is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Savannah
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
Wet Willie's business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- In-Store Food & Beverage Sales: Primary revenue stream from selling frozen daiquiris and food items at physical restaurant/bar locations. Locations operate with varying hours and offer dine-in, patio seating, and to-go options depending on local regulations.
- E-commerce Merchandise Sales: Online store selling Global Cooler daiquiri mixes, branded merchandise including apparel (hoodies, t-shirts, tank tops, caps), koozies, cup wraps, mural cups, and rain ponchos. Free shipping for orders over $60.
- Gift Cards: Digital and physical gift cards available for purchase online and in-store at all locations.
- Franchise Fees: Wet Willie's operates as a franchise model with independently owned and operated locations. Franchise opportunities are available through wetwilliesfranchise.com.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Global Cooler Daiquiri Mixes - 4 Pack |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Global Cooler Daiquiri Mixes - 2 Pack |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Koozies |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Coolie Velcro Cup Wraps |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Rain Ponchos |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adjustable Ball Cap |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Black Hooded Sweatshirt |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Long Sleeve T-Shirt |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | V Neck T-Shirt with Global Cooling Logo |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | V Neck Call A Cab |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Royal Blue Global Cooling Tank Top |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wet Willie's World Famous Mural Cups |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Wet Willie's product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wet Willie's sells frozen daiquiris in 15+ proprietary flavors (including signature drinks such as Call A Cab, Attitude Improvement, Shock Treatment, Sour Apple, and Monkey Shine) at company-owned and franchised bar locations in US coastal and entertainment destinations. It complements the beverage program with a casual food menu (wings, burgers, sandwiches, seafood, salads), non-alcoholic and non-daiquiri alcoholic options, branded merchandise (apparel, koozies, mural cups, cup wraps, rain ponchos), and at-home Global Cooler daiquiri mix packs that let customers recreate signature drinks at home.
Product overview
Wet Willie's is a restaurant and retail company founded in 1988 and headquartered in Savannah, Georgia, operating nine locations across the US. The core product is frozen daiquiris available in 15+ flavors, complemented by a food menu featuring appetizers, sandwiches, seafood, and wraps. The company sells merchandise (Global Cooler at-home daiquiri mixes, apparel, koozies, mural cups) through its e-commerce store. Additional services include a loyalty program (Cool Rewards), online ordering via ToastTab, and gift cards. Some locations offer event spaces for private parties and to-go drink options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Global Cooler: A product line of daiquiri mixes sold for home use, including flavors like Attitude Improvement, Call a Cab, Shock Treatment, and Sour Apple.
Products and services
- Frozen Daiquiris Wet Willie's signature frozen daiquiris available in 15+ classic and exotic flavors including Strawberry, Pina Colada, Call a Cab, Attitude Improvement, Shock Treatment, Sour Apple, and more. Customers can swirl flavors to create custom blends. Sold at retail bar locations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Served guests from all 50 states and numerous foreign countries
Companies that use Wet Willie's
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wet Willie's technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Wet Willie's partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Local NonprofitsminorWet Willie's partners with local nonprofits through donations of time, beach cleanups, and local baseball team sponsorships as part of their community giving-back initiatives.
- Local Baseball TeamsminorWet Willie's sponsors local baseball teams as part of their corporate responsibility and community involvement efforts.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wet Willie's competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Dave & Buster's: Dave & Buster's is a publicly-traded entertainment-center chain combining casual dining, bars, and arcade attractions in suburban/entertainment hubs. Comparable on bar-led revenue mix, tourist/occasion-driven traffic, and merchandise/loyalty monetization.
- Hooters: Hooters operates hundreds of franchised casual bar-and-grill locations in tourist/entertainment districts, with strong bar-led economics and branded merchandise. Comparable on franchise unit model, casual tourist-customer mix, and bar-first revenue mix.
- Bahama Breeze: Bahama Breeze is a Darden-owned tropical-themed casual-dining chain with strong Caribbean cocktail and frozen drink identity. Comparable to Wet Willie's through island-themed bar atmosphere, frozen/tropical cocktail menu, and bar-led economics.
- Hard Rock Cafe: Hard Rock operates branded themed cafes in major tourist cities worldwide with strong memorabilia/merchandise CPG extensions and signature cocktails. Comparable to Wet Willie's via globally recognized brand building through tourist markets and branded at-home products.
- Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville (Cheeseburger in Paradise / LandShark): LandShark Bar & Grill (Margaritaville-affiliated) operates beachfront themed bar/grills tied to a music-lifestyle IP. Comparable to Wet Willie's through beach-front footprint, frozen/tropical cocktails, casual food menu, and franchise/licensing go-to-market.
- Landry's / Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Bubba Gump, part of the Landry's portfolio, operates themed seafood casual-dining units in tourist destinations (boardwalks, entertainment districts) worldwide. Comparable on themed dining, tourist-area real estate, and casual bar-food/drinks integration, though broader in cuisine.
Emerging players
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe: Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a large US smoothie/specialty beverage franchise with strong franchise unit economics and CPG-style frozen beverage SKUs. Comparable via franchise-led bar/cafe model, specialty beverage focus, and brand-extension products.
Direct peers
- Senor Frog's: Senor Frog's operates franchised, high-energy themed bar/restaurants in tourist destinations (carnival/beach resorts). Highly comparable to Wet Willie's through loud party atmosphere, frozen and oversized cocktails, and tourist-heavy locations.
- Fat Tuesday: Fat Tuesday is the most direct competitor — a national chain of bars specializing in frozen daiquiris and other frozen cocktails. It operates company-owned and franchise units in similar tourist/leisure destinations (beach boards, casinos, entertainment districts) using a near-identical product architecture: proprietary frozen drink machines, signature flavor names, and a fun, casual atmosphere.
- Margaritaville (restaurant chain): Margaritaville operates themed casual-dining restaurants with a tropical cocktail-led identity, anchored in tourist destinations. Comparable to Wet Willie's through its franchise/bar model, signature frozen and tropical drinks, location selection (beach/entertainment districts), and branded merchandise/CPG extensions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wet Willie's social profiles
Digital presenceWet Willie's financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wet Willie's leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Wet Willie's funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wet Willie's M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wet Willie's
What does Wet Willie's do?
Wet Willie's sells frozen daiquiris in 15+ proprietary flavors (including signature drinks such as Call A Cab, Attitude Improvement, Shock Treatment, Sour Apple, and Monkey Shine) at company-owned and franchised bar locations in US coastal and entertainment destinations. It complements the beverage program with a casual food menu (wings, burgers, sandwiches, seafood, salads), non-alcoholic and non-daiquiri alcoholic options, branded merchandise (apparel, koozies, mural cups, cup wraps, rain ponchos), and at-home Global Cooler daiquiri mix packs that let customers recreate signature drinks at home.
Is Wet Willie's a public or private company?
Wet Willie's is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Wet Willie's founded?
Wet Willie's was founded in 1988. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Wet Willie's based?
Wet Willie's is headquartered in Savannah, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wet Willie's make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. In-Store Food & Beverage Sales are the primary driver. The others are E-commerce Merchandise Sales, gift Cards and franchise Fees.
Who are Wet Willie's's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Dave & Buster's, Hooters, Bahama Breeze, Hard Rock Cafe, Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville (Cheeseburger in Paradise / LandShark) and Landry's / Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.. Tropical Smoothie Cafe is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Senor Frog's, Fat Tuesday and Margaritaville (restaurant chain).
Does Wet Willie's have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wet Willie's.
What industry is Wet Willie's in?
Wet Willie's's product category is Casual Dining & Frozen Beverage Bar. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADAIAH, Alcoholic Beverage Mixers & Cocktail Ingredients Brands (Non-alcoholic). Its NAICS code is 7224 and its SIC code is 5810.