Wingstop to cut ribbon at first Fort Wayne location

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – A national name is cleared to land in Fort Wayne. The city’s first Wingstop location is set to open at 407 W. Coliseum Blvd., Suite 111, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony slated for 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 16.

Owner Mark McLaurine says the restaurant is the product of entrepreneurship meeting great flavors.

“I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur,” McLaurine said. “Wingstop has a simplified menu that’s customer-friendly and easy to operate, and when I first tasted their food, I was sold.”

McLaurine, an Indiana State University graduate, has experience with the franchise. He opened a Wingstop in Terre Haute in 2016 and quickly found success there.

Established in Garland, Texas, in 1994, Wingstop is an aviation-themed, fast-casual restaurant chain. Wingstop features 12 wing flavors, ranging from the sweet and tangy Hawaiian option to the sweat-inducing Atomic variety, plus sides like fries and veggie sticks. One of the fastest-growing concepts in the country, Wingstop has grown to include more than 1,250 locations worldwide.

McLaurine aims to eventually open additional locations in the Fort Wayne area. The Coliseum Boulevard site creates 30 new jobs.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is open to the public.

About Wingstop

What began as a small buffalo-style chicken wing restaurant in Garland, Texas, continues to soar to great heights. Today there are more than 1,250 Wingstop restaurants open across the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, UK, and the United Arab Emirates. Our proprietary recipes, outstanding food, and superior customer service created a demand that could only be satisfied by more locations. And in 1997 we began offering franchises. Today we are one of the fastest-growing concepts in the country, attracting top entrepreneurs and operators with the drive and passion to own their own business. Learn more at wingstop.com.

About Greater Fort Wayne Inc.

Greater Fort Wayne (GFW) Inc. serves Fort Wayne and Allen County, Indiana, as its primary point of contact for economic growth. GFW Inc. focuses on prosperity and community vibrancy through economic development, advocacy, programs, and resources that support business success, leadership development, graduate retention, and community engagement.