No. 75 along Lovell Rd. for Wings Etc. Grill-Pub

Wings Etc. Grill & Pub, owned by Dwayne and Tami O’Dell, opened Tuesday, March 9, at 319 Lovell Road next to McDonald’s, as the franchise’s 75th location.

“We’re excited about being open,” Dwayne said just before the doors opened. “It’s been a long time. We started this before COVID hit — COVID slowed us down, and we’re kind of thankful that it did — but we’re actually excited to have people trained and be ready for our first day.”

“Wings Etc. Inc. is a fast-growing, Indiana-based sports bar franchise known for its laid-back, family-friendly atmosphere, award-winning jumbo wings, diverse pub menu and local craft beer options,” a press release stated.

“We have 22 different flavors (of wings),” Dwayne said. “Our wings are always fresh, never frozen.”

However, its menu “extends way beyond wings,” he added. “We have burgers, fish, smoked ribs, sandwiches such as subs and wraps, smoked Gouda bacon mac ‘n’ cheese bites, salads, children’s meals and more than 40 domestic and craft beer selections in bottles and on tap.”

The O’Dells chose to buy into the Wings Etc. franchise because of the support that came with it, as well as the “phenomenal food and atmosphere,” Dwayne said.

“We looked into four or five companies before we chose this one,” he added.

“We chose Knoxville because we live here, we know the town, we know the area and we know what Knoxville can do,” Tami stated in a press release. “We want to run this restaurant just like we have run our other business, Affordable Car Care, in Powell.

“Everyone who walks through the door aren’t customers — they are friends and family.”

Dwayne said the O’Dells narrowed down their choice of locations from 20 to three, one of which was the Lovell Road site, formerly Hurricane Grill & Wings.

He brings his prior restaurant experience to Wings Etc.

“I spent a lot of time, years ago, managing and working in restaurants,” Dwayne said. Along with the mechanics business at Affordable Car Care, he “does fire and EMS as well” with Rural Metro.

Wings Etc. Knoxville has opened in compliance with state and local COVID-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of all customers and staff, he said.

Along with dine-in service, orders also can be made by calling 865-392-1021 and online ordering on its website at wingsetcofknoxville.com.

Dwayne said in the near future, they plan to offer Door Dash and Grub Hub ordering.

Its hours are from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Thursday; from 11 a.m. to midnight, Friday and Saturday; and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays.

Founded in 1994 by Jim Weaver in the South Bend, Indiana area, Wings Etc. also has dozens of large HDTVs tuned to sports programming as well as “kid-friendly arcade-quality video games” and weekday lunch and food specials.