Wingstop Expansion Plans Underway in Houston - 12 New Restaurants to Open (7/01)

Antonio Swad, founder of Wingstop Restaurants, Inc., announced that the fast growing chain has signed 12 new Franchise development agreements for the Houston area, all of which will open within the next 12 to 18 months.

"Since the Porters and Todd Crosswhite opened the first Houston Wingstop a year ago, we have been overwhelmed with inquiries from the Houston area," said Swad. "I expect that we'll be closing the Houston market to new applications very soon."

Kim and James Poullard will be the first of the new lot of Houston owner/operators to open. They will be opening on July 18 in the Kroger Signature Shopping Center at 12620 Woodforest Dr., Suite 4880. As with all Wingstops, their operating hours will be from 4:00 to midnight on weekdays and from 11:00 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays. This will be the Poullards' first venture into the Restaurant business; James is a pharmacist and Kim is an accountant.

Six other franchisees will be opening the additional 11 Wingstops slated to open in the next twelve to eighteen months. "The other restaurants are in various stages of development from site selection to final stages of construction," said Swad. Wingstop Restaurant's real estate firm, RTS Real Estate Services, LLC, is currently searching for several of the locations. The restaurants usually perform best in in-line shopping centers and only a small square footage is needed.

In just three years of franchising, Wingstop now has 31 restaurants open and another 50 under development in twelve states: Texas, Louisiana, Virginia, Georgia, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Missouri, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, and Arizona.

Wingstop is a Dallas, Texas based franchise operation founded by restaurant veteran, Antonio Swad. The restaurant offers a nostalgic, aviation-themed atmosphere where the sole focus is on chicken wings. They feature eight unique wing flavors: Original Hot, Cajun, Atomic, Mild, Teriyaki, Lemon Pepper, Hawaiian Barbeque, and Garlic Parmesan. The wings are always made-to-order and served steaming hot.