Wings Etc. is celebrating 30 years in business and 30 years atop the Best Wings category in the South Bend Community’s Choice Awards.
Both landmarks are meaningful to founder Jim Weaver. He opened his first Wings Etc. restaurant in 1994 in Mishawaka. Soon after, Weaver opened a second in South Bend. The company has expanded to 81 locations.
“Even after 30 years, I feel a certain amount of anxiety surrounding the outcome of the Community’s Choice Awards. It’s more than bragging rights to us,” Weaver said in a press release. “After all, it’s the community at large doing the voting.”
Each year, the South Bend Community’s Choice Awards recognize over 450 businesses and organizations. The public votes for their top choices, and the businesses and organizations with the most votes in each category are announced at a gala in October. Weaver said the recognition is an affirmation of the team’s efforts and of the brand’s existence.
“This is our once-a-year pat on the back, and we take significant pride in the recognition,” he said.
Weaver attributes the honor to the brand’s willingness to innovate with an ever-evolving menu, signature flavors and carefully sourced chicken.
“We serve a quality product true to the original Buffalo-style recipe: a fresh, never frozen, unbattered jumbo wing slathered in sauce. That’s a hard combination to beat for the true wings fan,” Weaver said. “Thankfully, people recognize that.”
Community has long been a priority for Weaver. He has been contributing to local fundraisers, sports teams and causes since he opened his doors 30 years ago.
“The South Bend community, in fact the entire Michiana area, has supported me, supported my family and supported my employees and their families since 1994. That’s a long time,” Weaver said. “As such, I owe them big time for allowing me to fulfill my dream of business ownership. It’s been my privilege to open our doors every day.”
Wings Etc. has locations across the Midwest and South. The newest franchise is in Vincennes, with the next one coming to La Porte, Texas. The company maintains nine locations in the Michiana area.
“Thank you, South Bend,” Weaver said. “We’ve built something to be proud of.”
