It's WingKing!
Published:Thursday | December 9, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Latoya Grindley, Gleaner Writer
Succulent gourmet wings with an assortment of sauces to awaken and entice your tastebuds is what WingKing promises to deliver.
Always a big fan of tasty chicken wings since childhood, it was one of Christopher Morgan's ambitions to open his own gourmet wings establishment. "I love chicken wings. And one day I thought to myself that I would want to own a chicken wing restaurant. A place where it would just be finger foods, eating without a knife and fork".
Following that dream, Morgan is now relishing the tremendous growth of his business since it was first conceived. And perhaps this growth was a result of his baby steps approach.
"Last year, I decided to have a Christmas eve party at my house where I invited over friends and I made wings with three different sauces. They loved it! After that they just wanted more, so I did it again on New Year's Eve," Morgan recalled.
Very soon word spread and Morgan was now charged with the responsibility of satisfying the many appetites that became hooked on his tasty wings.
This resulted in the birth of his Friday wings night, which eventually grew to include Saturday nights. "It was so demand driven that we had people calling and placing orders from Thursdays to ensure they got wings when they turned up a particular night," Morgan recalled.
Free of cost on Fridays, groups would turn up at Morgan's residence and enjoy the wings. And all they would be asked to do is bring their own drinks.
But eventually with the influence of close family and friends, the full-time pastor was urged to turn his 'freebie' into a moneymaking business. "In April we came up with our first price list and on it we had different names, which would match the number of wings ordered," Morgan stated.
Increasing demand
Still, the numbers grew, pouring into the private residence, which was now set up with tables and chairs to accommodate the guests. "We were so busy. We had security and I mean it looked like a party with the tents, tables and chairs," he said.
And to feed the patrons, Morgan now had to increase his one case of chicken wings to about 15 to meet the demand.
Today, having adequately 'tested the waters' from home, Morgan has now opened his first official WingKing location at the Sovereign Centre. "We opened during the first week in December and we are teaming up with Jimmy's Ice Cream Shop, and business has been excellent so far," Morgan said.
Starting originally with three sauces, the number available has now grown, and this comprises Guava Jerk, Garlic Parmesan, Buffalo Wild, Sweet & So-Wah, Pineapple Ginger, Dragon Stout BBQ, Bacon Cheddar Ranch, Orange Sesame Asian, Strawberry BBQ mild and hot.
"Our ingredients are really inspired by Jamaican products, and for the sauces, I thought about the most interesting and possibly tasty sauces that persons would want to smother their wings with," he said.
Having just opened this outlet, Morgan has already pinpointed additional locations which, in the near future, will house WingKing outlets.
Along with the support of his partner and fiancée Marsha Reid, Morgan attributes the success of his business to date to "it's exclusivity, novelty and taste that keeps people coming back".
To promote the business so far, social marketing and word-of-mouth have been fruitful. "We are on Facebook, Twitter @WingkingTweets and a BlackBerry group and the feedback is good," Morgan disclosed.
Having to balance his full-time job as a pastor at Go For God family church and a businessman, Morgan visions further growth in the food industry. "Ultimately, I want to open a restaurant where people can come and dine in a relaxed atmosphere," he said.
But in the interim he has expanded his business offerings to reach out to a wide cross-section of people. "We do catering for groups. We have successfully taken on large orders of about 720 wings. And we also do delivery as well every day, and when you look at it, ordering 24 wings can be much cheaper to share for a family than other foods," Morgan opined.
For delivery or for additional information, call 276-WING (9464) or 276-KING (5464).
Get on a high with the buffalo wild chicken wings.