Students now have one more place to satisfy their wing cravings. World of Wings Café and Wingery opened the doors of its fifteenth restaurant here in Baton Rouge recently.
The Covington-born restaurant is trying to make a name for itself at its newest location on Jefferson Highway in the Jefferson Village shopping center.
The restaurant held its grand opening Jan. 6. Restaurant owner Jeff Giavotella offered a variety of specials and Mayor Kip Holden made a guest appearance. Giavotella bought into the franchise in October 2003.
Paul Ballard, one of the co-founders of the WOW franchise, said the restaurant targets all age groups.
“WOW appeals to the whole family,” said Ballard. “The restaurant is fun, active and lively.”
Ballard said because it is family-oriented, all ages can enjoy the menu.
“All the dishes have flare and flavor,” said Ballard.
Ballard founded the restaurant with his two brothers, Steve and Scott Ballard. They began developing the concept of WOW in 2000.
While establishing their restaurant, the brothers hired chef George Rhode from Outback Steakhouse International to help in the creation of dishes.
“We take pride in our food, and our chef is the direct answer to our need,” said Ballard.
The brothers opened their first store December 17, 2001 in Covington.
Six months after the opening of the original restaurant, the Ballard brothers, who now live in Mandeville, opened the second restaurant there.
Ballard said, “We wanted to find our niche in New Orleans and in the Louisiana market.”
Two restaurants have opened in the last week, and the chain now spans southern Louisiana with 13 locations. There are also three other locations in Mississippi and Florida.
In two weeks, the franchise will open a restaurant in Mizzula, Montana.
WOW offers a wide selection of food, including quesadillas, salads, wings, tenders, fajitas, burgers and wraps. The wings come in seventeen homemade sauces.
Angel Tibbs, who has worked for the Covington WOW since its opening, said the menu has changed over time.
She said in the last year, the restaurant has added hamburgers and shrimp.
Troy Barraco, general manager of the WOW restaurant in Mandeville, said the franchise allows for an inflow of new ideas.
Unlike the majority of the restaurants in which the customers order at the counter, Barraco pointed out that the Mandeville restaurant offers table-side service. He said he has made this change in service in the last four months he has been working there.
The Baton Rouge restaurant has its own special features, too. A plane painted navy and orange hangs from the ceiling.
“We have a spectacular airplane that actually flew,” said Giavotella.
Giavotella said he bought the plane from a retired man in Oklahoma.
The restaurant also offers the largest bar of the chain. Giavotella’s bar serves 69 types of liquor as well as 49 types of beer. The bar also offers margaritas and martinis.
Giavotella did the majority of the construction himself, painting the walls and even building the concrete bar.
Giavotella said he plans to open up two more restaurants by the end of next year in the Baton Rouge area, building one in the University neighborhood.