Remember the Original Wild Wing Cafe? Let’s Take a Trip Back
Wild Wing Cafe. Just the name conjures up images of sticky fingers, cold beer, and maybe a slightly questionable karaoke performance or two, right? For years, it’s been a go-to spot for wings and good times, especially down South. But have you ever wondered where it all began? It’s a story that starts not in some boardroom, but on a sunny beach.
Picture this: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, 1990. Cecil and Dianne Crowley, a couple of ex-advertising execs, decided to ditch the corporate grind in Atlanta for a more laid-back life by the ocean. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it? But these weren’t the type to just sit back and soak up the sun. They had an idea, a craving, really, for the perfect chicken wing joint.
Dianne’s homemade wing sauces were legendary back in Atlanta. Apparently, no party was complete without them. So, they thought, why not share the love? And that’s exactly what they did, opening the very first Wild Wing Cafe in Coligny Plaza. Now, that spot’s home to Steamer Seafood, but back then? It was wing heaven. Can you believe wings were only $3.95 a dozen on opening night? Dianne even told a story about how they completely ran out of food that first day! They had to send trucks all the way to Savannah just to keep up with the demand. Talk about a hit!
From there, things really took off. Charleston got a taste of the action in ’92 with a second location downtown. By ’96, the Hilton Head spot was so popular they had to move it to a bigger space – an old TGI Friday’s, no less! And then came franchising. Marietta, Georgia, got the first franchise location, and soon enough, Wild Wing Cafes were popping up all over. Those original seven wing flavors? They blossomed into over 30, some dreamed up by the customers themselves.
Now, here’s where the story takes a bit of a turn. After 22 years at the helm, the Crowleys decided to sell a majority stake in 2012. Axum Capital Partnership, out of Charlotte, North Carolina, took over. But the Crowleys held onto their Savannah location, so they weren’t completely out of the game.
The last few years haven’t been all sunshine and wings, though. Like many restaurants, Wild Wing Cafe hit some turbulence, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in July 2023. They had to shutter 15 locations earlier that year, blaming it on the pandemic and a hefty loan they couldn’t quite manage.
And the saddest part? The original Wild Wing Cafe on Hilton Head Island closed its doors for good in February 2023. It was the end of an era. They posted a heartfelt goodbye on Facebook, thanking everyone for 30+ years of memories. It’s a bummer, I know.
Of course, Wild Wing Cafe still exists, with locations scattered across several states, and headquarters in Charlotte. Just a heads up, though: don’t confuse it with Wild Wing Restaurants, the Canadian chain. Rick Smiciklas started that one up in Ontario in 1999, and they’ve got their own thing going on with over 100 wing flavors. Totally separate operation.
So, while you can’t visit that original spot in Hilton Head anymore, the spirit of Wild Wing Cafe lives on. It’s a classic American story, really: a couple chasing a dream, a simple idea that took flight, and a whole lot of “Hot Wings, Cold Beer, Good Times” along the way. It makes you wonder, what started as a retirement plan turned into a legacy, one saucy wing at a time.