By Anthony Vertucci,
There are a few things that even a bad economy can’t touch. Sustenance and other essentials will always prosper during feast or famine, and during especially tough times, entertainment becomes less of a luxury and more of a necessity. This could explain why family-themed restaurant franchise Wingman has chosen to expand during the worst economic recession since the Great Depression.
“There are a few things that will never go down regardless of the economy — fast food, beer, cigarettes and other vices,” said Patrick Olivery, the night manager of Wingman’s newest location in Selden. “People will always need to eat and have a good time and I think that’s why we’ve been successful. And once we get our beer license, we will do even better.” Wingman’s first New York location has obtained that license and will begin selling beer and wine next week.
The franchise, which got its start in Colorado in 1981, is primarily a west coast phenomenon. However, in recent years they have added branches on the east coast and most recently on Long Island. Though they currently only have 10 restaurants in the United States, five of which are in Colorado, they have plans to break ground on several new locations in North Carolina, Maine and New Jersey, while expanding their franchise deeper into New York.
“The franchise itself will be opening nine more locations in New York over the next five years,” said Olivery, who has been with the company since its Selden location opened in August. The expansion will more than double the company’s number of restaurants nationwide, with development already underway in Queens and Buffalo, the namesake of Wingman’s staple dish and hometown of the company-founding Mineo family.
On a recent cold, rainy Monday evening, sales were relatively slow at the Selden location.
Upon entrance, guests walk on a floor painted green to look like a football field, complete with yard lines and numbers. Customers sit on dugout-esque benches while waiting for their carry-out orders. The freshly painted walls show drawings of people playing baseball, hockey and soccer, among other sports. In the lobby, which includes a baseball net and over-sized, inflatable football, are five flat screen televisions hanging from the ceiling, each playing a different sports game or program, including Monday Night Football. Keeping with the restaurant’s sports theme, hocky masks and sticks hang inside the empty kid’s birthday party room.
“It’s a very slow night, which is typical during the week, but we are cranking on Friday night and on the weekends,” said Robert Lechthaler, the delivery driver for Wingman. “Sunday is one of our busiest days of the week. That’s when our lobby is pretty much half-full.”
Wingman hopes to survive in a shopping center that has seen many stores come and go during its 15 year existence. Of the 21 shops and eateries in the lot, only King Kullen, Home Depot and Café Amici Pizzeria have stood the test of time, with over 30 businesses including CVS, KB Toys and several delis coming and going.
If a small company has the courage to expand during these trying times, perhaps there is hope for things to turn around.
Change we can all believe in.
Other places serving wings on Long Island
Do you like Wingman? Or do you just enjoy a good tray of buffalo wings in a nice place to hang out with friends and watch the game? Check out these restaurants serving wings on the Island.
Buffalo Wild Wings: 1986 Middle Country Road, Centereach. 631-737-9464
1112 Deer Park Avenue, North Babylon. 631-242-9464, http://www.buffalowildwings.com/
Changing Times Sports Pub: 1247 Melville Road, Farmingdale. 631-694-6462, http://thechangingtimespub.com
Dave & Busters: 1856 Veteran’s Memorial Hwy, Islandia. 631-582-6615
261 Airport Plaza Blvd, Farmingdale. 631-249-0708, http://www.daveandbusters.com/
L.I. Wings –n- Things: 1105 Horseblock Road, Farmingville. 631-686-WING, http://www.liwings.com/
Wingman: 1877 Independence Plaza, Selden. 1-877-4-A-WINGMAN, http://www.wingmanwings.com/.
Top Ten Fast Food Franchises of 2008
Bobby Holt
Anthony Vertucci
Raimundo Ortiz
gronda247
