Leah Tuckwiller
Contributing writer
Wings Etc., a restaurant franchise which prides itself on friendly atmospheres, good food, and good value, is coming to Salem in 2025. The franchise will be opened on Wildwood Road, owned and operated by Dr. Justin Lindsey and his wife, Christy, both well-known in the Salem community.
Dr. Lindsey, who practices medicine at Star City Medical, said that he’s always had an interest in restaurants. A Roanoke County native, Dr. Lindsey spent time in the Army as a cook and worked in restaurants in the Roanoke area before pursuing medicine, a history to which he credits his interest in opening this new location of Wings Etc.
After some time in Ohio, where a number of Wings Etc.’s restaurants are located, it became clear that his whole family enjoyed eating there, and, vitally, “nobody argued where to eat,” he said.
“You could just go to Wings Etc. and watch hockey or football and have some wings,” Dr. Lindey explained. “My wife and I had a good time, and we were just sitting there one day, and she was like, ‘Salem really needs something like this. This would do so well.’”
The very next day, he said, he was on the phone discussing franchising options.
First established in northern Indiana by Jim Weaver in 1994, the restaurant currently boasts over 80 restaurants, largely spread across the Midwest and in the South. The Salem location, anticipated to open in the spring of 2025, will be Virginia’s first Wings Etc.
“The world was foundering in an ocean of sports bar wannabes and over-hyped, corporate-y, cookie-cutter bar-and-grill ‘systems,’” reads the company’s website. “The key to saving the world was building ‘Happiness Centers’ filled with big TVs, great (but simple) food, friendly (but not ‘have-a-nice-day’-fake-y) service, and lots of cold beverages containing varying percentages of spirits. The goal? Good Food. Great Times.”
The franchise also prides itself on its mission to foster stronger communities and deeper relationships by bringing people together.
Community is already playing a big part in the new restaurant; Dr. Lindsey says that around one-third of the population of Salem are patients at his medical practice, and that they have been very supportive about the restaurant even in these early days.
“Not only am I going to have to answer at the restaurant, I’m going to have to answer at the practice, too, if people aren’t having a good experience,” he joked.
But in seriousness, Dr. Lindsey describes nothing but well wishes and support from his community. “They’ve been so supportive here [at Star City Medical], I think they’ll be really supportive [at the new Wings Etc.] too,” he said.
Excitement such as this won’t be contained for long. As Salem looks forward to its newest eatery, Dr. Lindsey says the news is out, and he’s already had interest not just from future guests, but from potential employees as well. According to a press release from Wings Etc., the restaurant will bring between 50 and 70 new jobs to the area, something the Lindseys have kept at the forefront as they embark on this new endeavor, and Dr. Lindsey has already had interest from local folks looking for work.
“The Lindseys bring to the table the energy, enthusiasm and drive that we know makes for a successful franchise,” said Wings Etc. CEO Rob Hensmann. “We’re thrilled to welcome them to the Wings Etc. family and are supporting them every step of the way.”
The target date for the opening of the new restaurant is April 2025, and it seems the Salem community is ready for a plate of good food at Wings Etc. For more information on the franchise, visit their website at wingsetc.com or find them on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Courtesy image
