What Wings Etc does

Wings Etc., Inc. is a privately held full-service sports bar and grill franchise founded in 1994 by Jim Weaver in the South Bend, Indiana area and headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The company's core product is the Wings Etc. Grill & Pub concept, offering award-winning jumbo Buffalo wings with 19-22 signature sauces, gourmet burgers, smoked ribs, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and over 40 domestic and craft beer selections, served in restaurants equipped with dozens of large HDTVs, arcade-quality games, and a casual sports-focused atmosphere. The portfolio was expanded in 2026 with Wings Etc. 2Go, a to-go and carryout brand extension, alongside ancillary merchandise through WingsWear.shop.

The underlying technology consists of a conventional restaurant operations platform with a mobile loyalty application (Wings Rewards) and an online ordering system supporting carryout and delivery. No proprietary AI/ML, patents, or advanced data assets are disclosed; technology investment centers on guest-facing digital ordering and repeat-visit loyalty mechanics.

The business model is franchise-licensed: Wings Etc. charges a $39,500 initial franchise fee per unit, collects ongoing royalties based on franchisee restaurant sales, and generates direct revenue from its 32% company-owned/operated unit base. The system comprises 80+ locations across 13 states with franchises sold in 15 states, and 34% of franchisees own multiple units. Customers are SMB entrepreneurs seeking franchised business ownership and consumer dining guests. Distribution is domestic-only across Midwest, Southeast, and South regions, supported by NASCAR sponsorship, organic social channels, community giving programs (including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital via the Wings Etc. Foundation), and a franchise-development website funnel.

Name

Wings Etc

Legal name

Wings Etc., Inc.

Website

https://wingsetcfranchise.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Bar and Grill Franchise

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (7225)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Neighborhood & Sports Bars (THAFAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sports Bars (CRANACAC)

Keywords

• Sports bar franchise
• Restaurant franchising
• Casual dining restaurants
• Grill and pub
• Chicken wings restaurant

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Wayne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Franchise Royalties: Ongoing royalty fees from franchise operators based on restaurant sales, providing recurring revenue from the franchise system
2. Franchise Fees: Initial franchise fee of $39,500 charged to new franchisees for the right to operate Wings Etc. locations
3. Company-Owned Restaurant Sales: Revenue from 32% company-owned/operated units generating direct restaurant sales

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wings Etc. operates and franchises a full-service sports bar and grill concept offering award-winning jumbo Buffalo wings, signature sauces, gourmet burgers, smoked ribs, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and over 40 domestic and craft beer selections across 80+ U.S. locations featuring HDTVs tuned to sports programming. The franchisor generates revenue by licensing its brand, operating system, and unit economics to franchisees (32% of units are company-operated), and supports the system with negotiated food purchasing, an online ordering platform, and the Wings Rewards loyalty app.

Product overview

Wings Etc. is a fast-growing, award-winning full-service grill and pub restaurant franchise with over 80 locations across the US. The company's core product is the Wings Etc. Grill & Pub restaurant concept, offering a diverse menu centered on award-winning jumbo Buffalo wings with 19-22 signature sauces, fresh-never-frozen gourmet burgers, smoked ribs, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and over 40 domestic and craft beer selections. The portfolio includes the core restaurant brand (Wings Etc. Grill & Pub), a to-go/carryout brand extension (Wings Etc. 2Go), and ancillary merchandise through WingsWear.shop. Restaurants offer dine-in, takeout, catering, and online ordering services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wings Etc. Franchise Opportunity Licensed franchise rights to operate a Wings Etc. Grill & Pub sports bar unit under the company's brand, operating system, and supply chain; sold to qualified entrepreneurs with a $39,500 initial franchise fee, $350,000 liquid capital minimum, and $700,000 net worth minimum.
• Wings Etc. Grill & Pub Full-service sports bar and grill restaurant offering award-winning jumbo Buffalo wings with 19-22 signature sauces, fresh-never-frozen gourmet burgers, smoked ribs, sandwiches, wraps, salads, kids meals, and over 40 domestic and craft beer selections, paired with dozens of large HDTVs, arcade-quality video games, and a casual sports-focused atmosphere.
• Wings Etc. 2Go Sub-brand of Wings Etc. Grill & Pub focused on to-go and carryout orders, providing the same menu items (wings, burgers, sauces, sides) for off-premises dining through pickup and delivery channels.
• Wings Etc. Loyalty App (Wings Rewards) Mobile loyalty application providing Wings Rewards points, repeat-customer incentives, and a free appetizer download reward to diners across the Wings Etc. system.
• WingsWear.shop Merchandise Direct-to-garment (DTG) printed shirts and apparel featuring favorite Wings Etc. locations, sold through a dedicated e-commerce site.
• BFD Fries™ Signature menu item offering rolled out systemwide at Wings Etc. Grill & Pub locations.
• Mac 'N' Cheese Dishes Two new Mac 'N' Cheese dishes added to the Wings Etc. menu systemwide.
• Hand-Breaded Chicken Breast Sandwiches Hand-breaded chicken breast sandwiches launched systemwide across all Wings Etc. Grill & Pub locations.
• Ranch Fire Sauce Signature wing sauce rolled out across all Wings Etc. markets following strong demand.
• Big Flavor Dipper™ Dipping accompaniment rolled out systemwide for the hand-breaded chicken sandwich lineup at Wings Etc. locations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1st Quartile Top 25% AUV of $2,124,711
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Gordon Food ServicecoreTechnology or Integration · 14 January 2025Wings Etc. announced supplier-vendor relationship with Gordon Food Service for food distribution and supply chain operations supporting restaurant locations across the system.
• Wings Etc. FoundationcoreOthers · 27 September 2023Newly established Wings Etc. Foundation launches $250,000 fundraising initiative with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital focusing on children's charities and community giving programs.
• St. Jude Children's Research HospitalflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2023Wings Etc. Foundation launched with $250,000 fundraising initiative in partnership with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital pursuing mission of 'Improving Children's Lives'. Additional $100,000 donation announced in October 2025; $50,000 check presented in May 2024.
• Jeremy Clements RacingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWings Etc. serves as sponsor of Jeremy Clements Racing #51 Camaro in NASCAR Xfinity Series for multiple years including fourth consecutive year in 2024. Partnership includes ticket sweepstakes and race weekend promotions with St. Jude fundraiser component.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast IndianaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEd and Terry Stuczynski, Director of Information and Process at Wings Etc., named Big Couple of the Year by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana demonstrating company community engagement.
• Southeast Missouri State UniversityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWings Etc. Sponsorship of Southeast Missouri State University embracing unexpected partnership opportunities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Buffalo Wild Wings: The dominant US sports bar and wings chain with thousands of units nationwide. Directly comparable to Wings Etc. on core menu (wings, beer, burgers), sports bar atmosphere, HDTV-centric experience, and franchise operating model — though at materially larger scale.
• Wingstop: National wings-focused chain with 2,000+ locations, primarily franchise-operated. Closely comparable on hero product (wings), counter/table service mix, and aggressive franchise expansion strategy; differs in narrower menu and limited dine-in sports bar experience.
• Hooters: Casual sports bar chain featuring wings, burgers, beer, and televised sports. Comparable to Wings Etc. on menu mix, sports-bar positioning, and franchise presence in suburban US markets, though differentiated by its distinctive brand personality.
• Twin Peaks: Sports lodge concept with HDTVs, wings, burgers, and beer; operates dozens of franchise and company locations across the US. Direct comparable on sports bar experience, casual dining, and franchise growth model in similar size tier to Wings Etc.
• Smokey Bones: Sports-focused bar and fire-grill chain with wings, ribs, burgers, and beer. Comparable to Wings Etc. on casual sports bar positioning, menu overlap, and dine-in/off-premise model, though operating at a smaller, more regional scale.
• Buffalo Wings & Rings: Regional sports bar franchise with units across the Midwest and South, closely mirroring Wings Etc.'s footprint. Direct comparable on wings-led menu, sports bar atmosphere, and franchise expansion strategy in similar geographic and unit-count tier.

Broad incumbents

• Chili's Grill & Bar: National casual dining chain owned by Brinker International, with comparable menu (burgers, ribs, wings) and family sports bar positioning. Differs in scale (1,000+ units, corporate-owned) but competes for the same casual dining occasions and sports-viewing guest visits.
• Applebee's: Largest US casual dining chain with 1,500+ locations offering wings, burgers, and beer in a sports-friendly environment. Comparable broad incumbent competing for the same neighborhood casual dining and sports-viewing guest occasions, though at much larger scale and as a corporate chain.
• TGI Fridays: Established casual dining and bar chain offering wings, burgers, and beer in a sports-friendly setting. Broad incumbent with overlapping menu and bar-and-grill positioning, though currently restructured and operating a smaller US footprint than in prior years.

Emerging players

• Wing Zone: Wings-focused franchise concept with growing delivery and dine-in presence. Comparable to Wings Etc. on franchise-led growth and wings-centric menu, though with a stronger delivery/tech orientation and smaller dine-in footprint than Wings Etc.'s full-service sports bar format.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WingsEtc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wings-etc-franchising
• Instagraminstagram.com/wingsetc
• Facebookfacebook.com/WingsEtc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wings Etc