Atomic Wings Undergoes Explosive Development in 2022, Expanding Farther Across the US

Atomic Wings, a 14-unit brand specializing in flavorful chicken wings, had a phenomenal year for its franchising efforts and furthering development in 2022. The popular concept, which started in New York City and has since expanded to also have locations in Maryland, Texas and California, will soon be in over a dozen states as a result of the many signings executed this year.

“It's really an exciting time for us as a New York City brand, seeing Atomic WIngs expand outside of Manhattan. By year’s end in 2023, we will be in 13 states,” said Zack Omar, CEO. “All of this has been organic growth. We don’t use brokers; these are people who have tried our product and trust in the concept.”

In 2022, Atomic Wings celebrated four openings and signed 115 agreements with experienced multi-unit operators and developers. The brand is poised to double its footprint by the end of 2023 and grow by more than 600% in the next three to four years.  

In 2023, the franchise looks forward to opening stores in Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Tennessee and Illinois, where territories have already been sold out. There will also be openings that bring Atomic Wings to regions of West Virginia, Texas, California, Arkansas and Iowa, where further whitespace is available for continued opportunities.

“Just next year, we're committed to opening 14 new locations, which is 100% growth. The growth has been phenomenal,” said Omar. “We're really taking the industry by storm, and a lot more people are going to recognize the brand and our premium wings as we're expanding across the nation.”

The brand was busy working on a number of operational projects during 2022, which will roll out in the new year, including interior rebranding efforts with newly designed stores, a new website and a freshly redesigned logo. Atomic Wings also opened its first location with a drive-thru in Hagerstown, Maryland –- the first concept in the wing segment to do so. 

The company also recently introduced Thai wings and grilled wings, a healthier menu option that has increased sales and brought in many fitness-focused patrons looking for a protein fix. Atomic Wings also launched a sandwich line to expand upon the current offerings, with grilled chicken and buffalo chicken options.

On the executive team, the brand welcomed two key players with a combined four decades of restaurant experience: Michael Domico, vice president of development, and Michael Harmon, vice president of operations. 

Omar had the honor of being a panelist during the Fast Casual Executive Summit in October, speaking on the impact of delivery apps on the restaurant industry alongside other esteemed professionals. In September, the brand brought wings to the crew at 'Fox & Friends Weekend,' who had an on-air taste test. 

As for the outlook in 2023, Atomic Wings remains steadfast in its scaling efforts, aiming to become a top choice in the wing segment. The brand is exploring expansion opportunities in South Asia and the Middle East and hopes to begin development efforts on a global scale soon.

“As people start seeing us around the nation, we're going to get more inquiries. Most of our growth has been word-of-mouth and people coming into our restaurants,” said Omar. “Our goal is to capture this momentum and continue. We are going to stay aggressive in terms of selling units and letting the world know we’re growing in a big way.”

The total investment necessary to begin the operation of an Atomic Wings restaurant is $155,900 to $338,500. The total investment necessary to begin the operation of a multi-unit developer business for a required minimum of three Atomic Wings franchises is $197,900 to $381,000. For more information, visit https://atomicwingsfranchising.com/. 

ABOUT ATOMIC WINGS

Atomic Wings was created in 1989 with a mission to share authentic New York-style Buffalo wings with the world. Now, with dozens of restaurants open in the U.S., Atomic Wings is setting its sights on nationwide growth. In addition to its existing locations in New York and Maryland, Atomic Wings has additional units signed to open in Arizona, Nevada, California, Indiana and Texas. The brand is led by owners and brothers Zack and Ray Omar and offers customers fresh, never frozen, natural and hormone-free chicken wings hand-tossed in 14 proprietary sauces, a classic menu, a welcoming dining experience and a commitment to quality. For more information about Atomic Wings, please visit https://www.atomicwings.com/franchising.