Wingers Restaurant & Alehouse is a lively casual dining and sports-alehouse brand that traces its origins to the mountainous regions of Utah. The concept was launched in 1993 with its first restaurant opening in Bountiful, Utah, and the brand is now operated by Wingers USA Inc., based in Salt Lake City.

The chain is built around its specialty: made-to-order wings and chicken fingers coated in the well-known “Original Wingers Sauce.” These signature items are served alongside a lineup of hearty comfort dishes and an impressive assortment of local craft beers available on tap.

In 2016, the company rolled out the Alehouse format, offering a sports-centric environment with a full bar and a more refined casual atmosphere. This format aims to provide a flexible dining option that works equally well for families, couples, and groups. Wingers began offering franchises in the late 1990s.

A key distinguishing feature of Wingers is its strategic focus on smaller and mid-sized communities that are often overlooked by major national brands. Its restaurants typically operate within a streamlined footprint of about 3,600 to 4,500 square feet, plus additional patio seating, allowing the brand to succeed in markets where larger concepts may not fit.

Training

Wingers Restaurant & Alehouse offers a multi-stage training program to ensure its franchisees and management team are thoroughly prepared to operate under the brand's standards. Training is mandatory and must be completed at least six weeks before the restaurant opens. It is delivered through a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on learning, and certification programs.

1. Initial Training Program: The operating principal and up to three designated managers are required to attend and successfully complete a 12-week training program held in Salt Lake City, Utah, or another designated location. This program is offered without charge for up to four individuals, though the franchisee must pay for travel, meals, and lodging.
2. On-Site Opening Assistance: Wingers provides 12 days of pre-opening and opening assistance at the franchise location. While there is no fee for this service, the franchisee is responsible for all associated expenses like travel and lodging for the company’s representatives.
3. Manager Certification Program: This program, lasting approximately nine months, is required for general managers, kitchen managers, and assistant managers. Certification involves both training and performance evaluations, and individuals denied certification cannot serve in a management capacity.

Territory Protection

Wingers Restaurant & Alehouse provides its franchisees with a non-exclusive territory defined in the franchise agreement. Typically, the territory spans a 4-mile driving radius from the approved premises and includes a population base of around 40,000 people.

Within this territory, Wingers commits not to establish another traditional franchise or company-owned unit using its trademark, as long as the franchisee remains in compliance with the agreement.

However, this territorial protection is subject to adjustment. The franchisor reserves the right to change the territory boundaries if the population increases by more than 50%, or to correct errors or better align with market demographics.