Kansas City’s chicken wing wars are heating up as a new restaurant enters the market

Jefferson’s chicken wings have been a top draw since the first location opened in Alabama three decades ago.

Now the Lawrence-based Jefferson’s Franchise Systems is spinning off the wings in a new concept called WingStand by Jefferson’s.

The flagship location is now open at 5438 Johnson Drive in Mission (across the street from a Stroud’s Express and near a Wingstop that opened earlier this year).

A second WingStand is scheduled to open at 7715 State Line Road in early November (near another new Wingstop).

Brandon Graham, president of Jefferson’s Franchise Systems, said chicken wings have always been popular, but especially so during the pandemic as they are an easy delivery and carryout order.

Other new wing concepts launched during the pandemic include Brinker International’s It’s Just Wings, a delivery-only concept out of its Chili’s and Maggiano’s Little Italy restaurants.

The new Taste Island Grill in midtown specializes in bowls, tacos and jumbo whole wings served with jerk sauce, spicy guava and chili lime rub, and is designed to accommodate carryout. Wichita’s Chick N Max — with wings, chicken and waffles, sandwiches and more — also is expanding and it is looking for area franchisees.

Jefferson’s and WingStand use fresh, never frozen, wings that are made-to-order. But WingStand also is offering a variety of sauces and flavors not currently found in the lineup of chicken wing places, Graham said.

WingStand by Jefferson’s specializes in wings — boneless or traditional — and hand-breaded chicken tenders with 18 signature sauces, along with sandwiches (including one tossed in gochujang, a Korean chile paste, and topped with coleslaw).

Sides include honey slaw and three macaroni and cheese dishes (including the KC Honey Q Mac with white cheddar, chicken and bacon bits, drizzled with honey barbecue sauce and sprinkled with green onions), and it has such drinks as strawberry lemonade and cherry limeades.

The new quick-service concept, with limited indoor seating, allows the company to open in smaller spots than its Jefferson’s restaurants. It hopes to open several more locations in the area market, most likely another one in Johnson County, within the next year.

Jefferson’s was founded in Alabama in 1991. The full-service restaurants have a broad menu. It now has 30 locations in five states, including two in Lawrence.

This story was originally published October 19, 2021 at 12:11 PM.