Wing It On! Brings Winning Streak to Illinois with Two New Franchise Agreements
Craveworthy Brands to Introduce Ultimate Buffalo Wing Experience to Springfield and Carol Stream, Expected to Open in 2025
CHICAGO, Jan. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wing It On!, the wing concept from innovative multi-brand restaurant company Craveworthy Brands ('Craveworthy'), announced two newly signed franchise agreements that will bring additional locations to Illinois.
Driven by two experienced franchise groups, the new locations will be introduced in Springfield and Carol Stream, both expected to open in the first half of the year.
New Champions Join Wing It On!
In Springfield, a local entrepreneur and military veteran is leveraging their business expertise to introduce Wing It On! to the State's Capital. With a successful background in sports and wellness franchising as well as real estate, this marks the franchise partner's first venture into the food and beverage space. They are actively scouting prime locations in the Springfield area.
Wing It On! has also partnered with a seasoned group of quick-service franchise partners. The entrepreneurial group, that boasts a strong track record in the restaurant industry, plans to open their first location in the Northwest suburbs. Slated to open in Q1 of 2025, the new location will cater to the local demand for a wing joint.
'We're proud to team up with these champion entrepreneurs to introduce Wing It On! in more Illinois communities, delivering a knockout Buffalo wing experience to local wingnuts,' added Matt Ensero, Co-Founder and Brand President of Wing It On!
As Wing It On! continues to grow across the U.S., Illinois is a key market for the Brand's franchise expansion. It opened its first corporate-owned location in the Midwest in Lombard this past July.
'Illinois has quickly become a contender in our growth strategy as we expand across the Midwest,' said Gregg Majewski, Founder and CEO of Craveworthy Brands. 'With wing demand soaring, these new agreements are a testament to the strength of Wing It On!'s franchise business model.'
A Winning Franchise Opportunity
Recently named one of Franchise Dictionary Magazine's 'Top 100 Game Changers' of 2024, Wing It On! has garnered attention as a high-growth franchise opportunity for those ready to dominate in the booming wing segment.
Wing It On!'s turnkey footprint and streamlined operations empower entrepreneurs to deliver award-winning wings with ease. The franchise model is optimized for off-premises dining, featuring a seamless menu compatible with virtual kitchens to unlock additional revenue streams. Tech-forward innovations such as mobile ordering and digital loyalty programs enhance guest engagement, drive repeat business and position franchise partners for long-term success.
Backed by Craveworthy Brands' national awareness and proven operational systems, Wing It On! is actively searching for qualified, prospective franchise partners looking to become a part of a champion team and deliver a craveworthy dining experience in their local communities.
For more information about Craveworthy Brands, please visit www.craveworthybrands.com. For more information about Wing It On!, please visit www.wingiton.com. For more about the franchise opportunities, please visit www.craveworthybrands.com/franchising.
About Wing It On!
Founded in 2011, Wing It On! is redefining the buffalo wing experience with its dedication to quality, flavor and the perfect wing trifecta: crispy wings, bold sauces and house-made dips. Backed by Craveworthy Brands, Wing It On! is a three-time champion at the National Buffalo Wing Festival, recognized as 'America's Best Sauce' with award-winning flavors that set the bar for excellence in the wing game. With locations from Dallas-Fort Worth to Chicago and beyond, Wing It On! offers an extensive lineup of over 20 unique sauces and rubs, from its award-winning Medium Buffalo to the intense Wings of Prey. Beyond wings, the menu features hand-crafted chicken sandwiches, loaded fries and craveable sides, inviting guests coast-to-coast to indulge in the ultimate wing experience. For more information, visit www.wingiton.com.
ABOUT CRAVEWORTHY BRANDS
Craveworthy Brands, the parent company of Bd's Mongolian Grill, Dirty Dough, Fresh Brothers Pizza, Flat Top Grill, Genghis Grill, Krafted Burger Bar + Tap, Lucky Cat Poke Co., Nomad Dawgs, Pastizza Pizza & Pasta, Scramblin' Ed's, Sigri Indian BBQ, The Budlong Southern Chicken and Wing It On!, is dedicated to invigorating and supercharging legacy brands while nurturing and growing emerging brands. The company brings together diverse, yet complementary brands and an accomplished, veteran leadership team in the growing culinary space. In addition to building and operating leading restaurant brands, Craveworthy Brands is active in the communities it serves and creates exciting career opportunities for its team members. Bridging the distinctive individuality of its concepts with a shared culture and spirit of collaboration, the Company's goal is to create truly unique and craveworthy experiences every day, every shift and at every turn. Learn more about Craveworthy and its brands at CraveworthyBrands.com.
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Associated Press
15 hours ago
- Associated Press
Wayfinder Moving Services Offers Customizable Moving Solutions in Buffalo, NY
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New York Times
2 days ago
- New York Times
The 9 most intriguing teams of NHL free agency: What I heard from a buzzy draft combine
BUFFALO, N.Y. — If you stepped into Panorama on Seven at any point last week, you could have taken in quite the scene. In addition to their advertised 'remarkable views of the downtown skyline and stunning sunsets,' the small hotel restaurant next to KeyBank Center, the Sabres' arena, was full at every table with multiple people from the hockey world. Advertisement Around a corner, CAA super agent Pat Brisson lunched with NHL general managers, one after another. At the next table, top executives from the Toronto Maple Leafs dined with a group of agents — preparing for one of the busier offseasons in the league — as Detroit's Steve Yzerman ambled by and said hello. Down the hall, Tampa Bay's Julian BriseBois, Utah's Bill Armstrong and other GMs linked up for quiet conversations away from prying media eyes. Hours later, a whole new group of hockey folks would filter in for post-dinner drinks, new conversations and negotiations. The NHL always descends on Buffalo at this time of year for the scouting combine, where the top prospects are tested and interviewed in advance of the entry draft. But this year, with no in-person draft, a weak free-agent class and most teams swimming in cap space, the scene felt different. Many front offices and agencies flew into town earlier and stayed longer, and their agendas were more harried than ever. After several long days at Panorama, everyone had tried the turkey BLT — sometimes more than once. As one high-profile agent said of the restaurant on Day 4, around the halfway point of the combine's proceedings, 'I feel like I f—ing live here.' For a few days, so did The Athletic. (The sandwich is pretty good.) Based on what we learned from talking to multiple executives and player agents in Buffalo, here are the nine NHL teams set to have the most intriguing offseasons, plus a quick CBA update, as we sit less than three weeks out from a draft and a free agency period that should be full of fireworks. One question I tried to pose to everyone I chatted with over the past week: Who is going to have the most interesting offseason? Several folks pointed to Anaheim and GM Pat Verbeek wanting to make a big move or two to finally push the young club forward after seven consecutive years out of the playoffs. Advertisement The Ducks took a jump from 59 points to 80 this past season, and some of their kids (e.g. Leo Carlsson) seemed to figure things out more as the year went on. They appear set in goal with Lukáš Dostál — a restricted free agent who needs a new contract — and have some trade chips at the position (John Gibson). The big question is, what do they do with as much as $25 million in cap space after signing their RFAs? Some of the chatter is that they'll potentially be the high bidder for Mitch Marner, with an unheard-of average annual value north of the $14 million that the Oilers' Leon Draisaitl currently makes as the NHL's highest-paid player. Understandably, after an NHL-record 14 straight years out of the playoffs, no one is happy in Buffalo. As such, the combine hosts were the center of a lot of scuttlebutt, with three key players out there in trade rumors. Alex Tuch, coming off a 36-goal season, has one year left before becoming a UFA; if he doesn't want to sign an extension, GM Kevyn Adams likely needs to move him to ensure he doesn't walk for no return. Bowen Byram and J.J. Peterka, meanwhile, are RFAs, and both contract negotiations could be contentious given the Sabres' struggles. Just don't expect them to sign offer sheets. Buffalo has enough cap space to match any outside offer, and more draft picks aren't what the team is after as it tries to climb back to respectability. But Adams needs to handle these three situations the right way or risk more backsteps. The Hurricanes had a 99-point season, making it to the conference finals, and yet you get the sense no one is satisfied in Raleigh. They're in Cup-or-bust mode, with $28 million in cap space and a green light from ownership to spend. It'll be interesting to see how GM Eric Tulsky navigates that freedom. Advertisement The Hurricanes are obviously going to be in the Marner sweepstakes, as adding a superstar is their top need and they were pushing hard for him at the deadline. But they'll also have a hole for a top-four defenseman, given Dmitry Orlov isn't expected back and Brent Burns is a 40-year-old unrestricted free agent. So even though they'll be chasing scoring talent, they have multiple needs and could take a big run at someone such as Aaron Ekblad — the top free-agent defenseman — if he makes it to market. Or they could pursue a trade to upgrade their back end, which was exposed against the Panthers in the Eastern Conference finals. Like a lot of teams, they'll be wrestling with how best to spend a lot of money in an environment without much to spend on. Sorry to disappoint any fans of teams that need a center — which honestly feels like at least half the league right now — but no one I spoke to around the league expects Sam Bennett to be available. He likes playing in Florida too much — and the feeling is mutual. Assuming he takes the old Elbo Room discount to remain a Panther, however, the intrigue will turn to fellow UFAs Ekblad and Brad Marchand. Bennett is likely to still cost, at minimum, $8 million per year, which would leave Florida with $11 million to replace a No. 1 defenseman, a top-nine winger and a backup goalie to get to a full lineup without major subtractions elsewhere. It feels likely that Ekblad, a career Panther, will get the bulk of that. But what if GM Bill Zito decides Marchand is an integral piece after the way he's excelled this postseason? His asking price could top $8 million, even at age 37, and that would make for some real tough decisions in South Florida. Ken Holland was one of the executives front and center at Panorama, including in a meeting with Brisson. It didn't take much imagination to come up with what they were likely talking about, as Brisson represents Vladislav Gavrikov, who the Kings would like to lock up before he makes it to free agency on July 1. Advertisement The trouble is that Holland is not alone in loving the player. Gavrikov posted some of the best defensive numbers of anyone league-wide last season, is only 29 years old, and is coming off a season in which he averaged 23:05 of ice time per game, a career high. And there's no one else like him available this free-agent season. His asking price could top $8.5 million on a max-term deal, a considerable raise over the two-year, $5.875 million deal he is coming off. As one executive said during the week, 'we're all trying to find where the new normal is' with a rapidly rising salary cap, which will hit $113.5 million two seasons from now, a nearly 30 percent jump from 2024-25. Gavrikov could definitely be someone who sets a new bar for a defensive defenseman, given that paradigm shift. What's interesting is the Kings have enough cap room that they can pay that asking price and still go after Marner with a massive Draisaitl-like offer. Which is why we have them as a top candidate to land the soon-to-be ex-Leaf. Everyone expects Holland to be super aggressive in his first year in L.A. There's a reason he turned down the Islanders job to take this one: He's chasing a Cup after being pushed out by the Oilers last summer. Unlike most of the teams on this list, the Rangers are not in a great cap position — especially if you consider the size of the contracts due to RFAs K'Andre Miller and Will Cuylle. On paper, they have around $8 million to spend, which is why the Rangers are likely to be active in the trade market. Veteran Chris Kreider has been on the block for more than six months, but teams are saying New York could also shake up its blue line, with Miller and Carson Soucy potentially available. Artemi Panarin is also entering the final year of his deal, so a decision on an extension will have to be made there at some point, too. Other execs believe GM Chris Drury has one of the toughest tasks in the league in turning around this roster after a disastrous 85-point season and with several key players on the wrong side of 30. Expect some big, unexpected swings in terms of trades and in free agency. Heard around the NHL combine this week: — #NYR among a handful of teams (BUF, UTA, SEA) looking to shake up their roster soon— Shesterkin, Fox and Panarin may be only #NYR untouchables in trade talk— Keep an eye on Vladislav Gavrikov and #NYR if Chris Drury can free up space — Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) June 7, 2025 The Ducks are one popular pick for 'most likely to be aggressive in free agency.' But Utah is right there, too. The Mammoth looked awfully close to being a playoff team for much of this season, but struggled to score despite a marvelous 90-point year from captain Clayton Keller. Their young core up front is only going to get better, but supporting Keller with better veteran depth will be priority No. 1, especially considering they seem set in goal and, if healthier than this past season, on defense too. Advertisement The Mammoth have 21 NHL players signed (11 forwards, eight defensemen and two goalies) and more than $20 million in cap space, so don't be surprised if they're in big on Marner, Nikolaj Ehlers and/or any trade targets who can put the puck in the net. They have plenty of picks and one of the league's top prospect pools to move the needle in deals, if necessary. They could be one of the primary teams available to absorb a cap dump from a contending team, especially if it involves a quality forward. Without a first-round pick until 2028 (!) and not much in the prospect pool, it's going to be difficult for GM Brad Treliving to make a huge splash in the trade market. But he needs to find a way to shed some of his bad contracts (Calle Järnkrok, David Kämpf and, maybe, Max Domi) and then spend that windfall into better three-line depth up front. Looking at this free agent class, that's going to be a tough ask. The Leafs would also like to bring in a playmaker on D, but that feels more like a want than a must-have at this point, especially with seven NHL blueliners already signed. More importantly, they would like to upgrade at center, but with Brock Nelson reupped in Colorado and Bennett likely to do the same in Florida, there really aren't many UFA options to pursue. One piece of good news over the past few days is that UFA Max Pacioretty is leaning toward a return after the Leafs expressed considerable interest in keeping him following a terrific postseason, according to a league source. And the Leafs remain confident they will get Matthew Knies inked to a reasonable second contract without any offer-sheet drama. Assuming John Tavares re-signs on a hometown discount (i.e., $5 million or less AAV), Treliving needs to then turn the rest of his $15 million or so cap space into some real help up front or Toronto could take a step back without Marner. Advertisement Would a big run at Marchand make sense, even with his age and sky-high asking price? It certainly looks like a real option, especially considering his ability to rise to the occasion in the playoffs — and the alternatives. There's some debate out there about how aggressively Vegas will pursue Marner in free agency, but put us on the side of having them as one of the favorites. The Golden Knights have been after the Leafs star for a while, including trade talks last summer, per Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. But, according to league sources, there were also discussions around a Marner-to-Vegas transaction before the trade deadline this year, a move that would have involved the Hurricanes in a three-way deal. Theoretically, the Leafs would have received Mikko Rantanen while the Golden Knights got Marner and sent something to Carolina. It's unclear just how far those talks went, or if Marner was asked to waive his no-movement clause to go to Vegas, but it sounds like what killed the deal was Vegas and Carolina failing to find the right assets to include to get it done — not anything on the Toronto side. (The Hurricanes ended up landing Logan Stankoven, two first-round picks and two third-round picks from Dallas for Rantanen.) The Golden Knights' cap situation this summer is tight. But if they moved someone such as William Karlsson, who has a $5.9 million cap hit for two more years, they could make a competitive Marner bid. And they wouldn't have to worry about giving up those kinds of assets this time around. More than a year away from the pandemic-era CBA expiring, collective bargaining between the NHL and NHLPA appears very close to done. The league and union have done an excellent job of keeping details under wraps, but after poking around at the combine, it certainly sounds like an announcement could come as soon as when the Stanley Cup Final wraps up. Expect the new agreement to bring labor peace until at least 2030 and not involve any massive changes, aside from the fact that there will now be salary cap accounting during the playoffs. How exactly that will work isn't yet known, but here's hoping the sides get it right, as it feels like a difficult thing to finesse given how cap accrual and trade deadline acquisitions work during the season. Advertisement There was, at one point, debate by teams over limiting contract term limits more than the current seven years for outside UFAs and eight for a team's own players. But ultimately, the argument for the status quo won out. It centered on the benefit that small-market teams get from longer deals, something in evidence in the final with Draisaitl and Connor McDavid playing on the tail end of eight-year contracts and making only a combined $21 million for the Oilers. Had the duo only had the option to sign for five or six years out of their entry-level deals, it's fair to say they'd be making a whole lot more right now. If so, who knows whether Edmonton is in this position? (Top photo of Mitch Marner: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Associated Press
Attorneys in NCAA antitrust case to share $475M in fees, with potential to reach $725M
The attorneys who shepherded the blockbuster antitrust lawsuit to fruition for hundreds of thousands of college athletes will share in just over $475 million in fees, and the figure could rise to more than $725 million over the next 10 years. The request for plaintiff legal fees in the House vs. NCAA case, outlined in a December court filing and approved Friday night, struck experts in class-action litigation as reasonable. Co-lead counsels Steve Berman and Jeffrey Kessler asked for $475.2 million, or 18.3% of the cash common funds of $2.596 billion. They also asked for an additional $250 million, for a total of $725.2 million, based on a widely accepted estimate of an additional $20 billion in direct benefits to athletes over the 10-year settlement term. That would be 3.2% of what would then be a $22.596 billion settlement. 'Class Counsel have represented classes of student-athletes in multiple litigations challenging NCAA restraints on student-athlete compensation, and they have achieved extraordinary results. Class Counsel's representation of the settlement class members here is no exception,' U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken wrote. University of Buffalo law professor Christine Bartholomew, who researched about 1,300 antitrust class-action settlements from 2005-22 for a book she authored, told The Associated Press the request for attorneys' fees could have been considered a bit low given the difficulty of the case, which dates back five years. She said it is not uncommon for plaintiffs' attorneys to be granted as much as 30% of the common funds. Attorneys' fees generally are calculated by multiplying an hourly rate by the number of hours spent working on a case. In class-action lawsuits, though, plaintiffs' attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning they get paid at the end of the case only if the class wins a financial settlement. 'Initially, you look at it and think this is a big number,' Bartholomew said. 'When you look at how contingency litigation works generally, and then you think about how this fits into the class-action landscape, this is not a particularly unusual request.' The original lawsuit was filed in June 2020 and it took until November 2023 for Wilken to grant class certification, meaning she thought the case had enough merit to proceed. Elon University law professor Catherine Dunham said gaining class certification is challenging in any case, but especially a complicated one like this. 'If a law firm takes on a case like this where you have thousands of plaintiffs and how many depositions and documents, what that means is the law firm can't do other work while they're working on the case and they are taking on the risk they won't get paid,' Dunham said. 'If the case doesn't certify as a class, they won't get paid.' In the request for fees, the firm of Hagens Berman said it had dedicated 33,952 staff hours to the case through mid-December 2024. Berman, whose rate is $1,350 per hour, tallied 1,116.5 hours. Kessler, of Winston & Strawn, said he worked 1,624 hours on the case at a rate of $1,980 per hour. The case was exhaustive. Hundreds of thousands of documents totaling millions of pages were produced by the defendants — the NCAA, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC — as part of the discovery process. Berman and Kessler wrote the 'plaintiffs had to litigate against six well-resourced defendants and their high-powered law firms who fought every battle tooth and nail. To fend off these efforts, counsel conducted extensive written discovery and depositions, and submitted voluminous expert submissions and lengthy briefing. In addition, class counsel also had to bear the risk of perpetual legislative efforts to kill these cases.' Antitrust class-action cases are handled by the federal court system and have been harder to win since 2005, when the U.S. Class Action Fairness Act was passed, according to Bartholomew. 'Defendants bring motion after motion and there's more of a pro-defendant viewpoint in federal court than there had been in state court,' she said. 'As a result, you would not be surprised that courts, when cases do get through to fruition, are pretty supportive of applications for attorneys' fees because there's great risk that comes from bringing these cases fiscally for the firms who, if the case gets tossed early, never gets compensated for the work they've done.' ___ AP college sports:
