WINGSTOP ANNOUNCES EXPANSION UNDERWAY IN MISSOURI

Jim Deering, president of Wingstop Restaurants, Inc., announced today that the fast growing chicken wing chain has signed a Franchise development agreement with partners Ray Crossland, Terrell Barkett and Patricia Stoner to open three Wingstop restaurants, two in Springfield and one in Jefferson City. The chain opened its first Missouri store in St. Louis in February, 2001.

This will be the first Restaurant venture for Crossland, Barkett and Stoner. Crossland and Barkett already have several transportation businesses together. Crossland first learned about Wingstop at a Super Bowl party in Dallas where the host served the chain's wings. After the party, Crossland immediately looked the company up on the Internet. "Their investment price was good, their hours are great, and there's nothing like this in Springfield," said Crossland. "We wanted to diversify and this was the perfect opportunity to do that."

The first restaurant will open around the first of October at 303-C East Battlefield in the Battlefield Plaza shopping center. The partners hope to open the second by late November. The second restaurant will be located on the Northwest corner of Kansas Expressway and Kearney next to the Hobby Lobby, 2445 North Kansas Expressway, Suite G.

A search is underway in the Jefferson City area for the third location. Typically, Wingstop restaurants do best in shopping centers that are anchored by a 24-hour grocery store, and they require very little space, around 1,200 to 1,500 square feet.

In just three years of franchising, Wingstop now has 33 restaurants open and another 60 under development in thirteen states: Texas, California, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Virginia, Colorado, Arizona, Illinois, Nevada, and now Missouri.

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. Also, a variety of delicious sides, soft drinks, beers and wine coolers are available.