WingHouse Begins Regional Expansion Plan

GlobeSt:

Locally based Ker’s WingHouse Bar & Grill plans to expand from its current 19-store chain by launching a national franchise program that aims to add six locations by the end of this year and 48 by 2011. The chain’s current locations are in Florida and Texas, where founder Crawford Ker played for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1980s.

“Our goal is to leverage the company’s successful formula by launching an expansion plan that will enable us to continue our growth through franchising,” says Ker, who established his casual-dining chain in Largo in 1994 after retiring from the National Football League. The new growth strategy will focus initially on Southeastern states, with a long-term goal of expanding at least 250 units nationwide, he says.

Ker’s WingHouse offers chicken wings, hamburgers and branded hot sauces, plus draft beer and liquor, served by attractive waitresses wearing shorts and tank tops. Ker, who is from nearby Dunedin, played college football at the University of Florida and spent seven seasons in the NFL as an offensive guard from 1985-91.