East Coast Wings + Grill, the full service, family dining wings franchise is expanding its Southeast presence with a new franchise agreement that will bring the concept to Tallahassee in northwest Florida, with an opening planned for late 2026. The Tallahassee franchise will be operated by the Patel family, Vimal Patel, Ajay Patel and Ankit Patel, an experienced ownership group with a business background spanning restaurants, retail, gas stations, motels and finance. Together, they see Tallahassee as a strong growth market driven by families, students and sports fans seeking quality casual dining options. The expansion aligns with Florida’s projected franchise growth, supported by population increases, a business-friendly climate and rising demand for premium dining concepts. Brand CEO and Founder Sam Ballas noted that Tallahassee’s growing population, college presence and diverse dining scene make it an ideal fit for the brand’s strategic Southeast expansion plans. Based in Winston-Salem in North Carolina, East Coast Wings + Grill is a 30-year-old chain with over 30 locations in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina and Tennessee, featuring the brand’s signature menu, including more than 50 wing flavors across seven heat levels, along with burgers, salads, skillets and shareable appetizers. Typically, the restaurants operate in 2600 to 3000 square foot end cap or inline unit in open plazas.
East Coast Wings + Grill, 100 Cambridge Plaza Dr., Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27104 (336/760-4985 www.eastcoastwings.com)