California restaurant chain debuts in state with Clearwater location

Epic Wings, a San Diego-based chicken wing restaurant concept that was founded in 1982 and now has 30 franchises nationwide, is set to open its first restaurant in Florida.

Located in the Tri-City Shopping Center in Clearwater, the eatery is owned and operated by franchisee T.J. Leaf, a former NBA player who grew up in San Diego and, according to a news release, has fond memories of the original Epic Wings restaurant, formerly known as Wings-N-Things.

“I hope to provide the same type of memories and experiences for families in Clearwater; this is truly a full circle moment for me,” states Leaf, who played basketball for UCLA before going on to a pro career with the Indiana Pacers and Portland Trail Blazers, in the release.

Epic Wings will hold a grand opening celebration from 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20. Guests will be able to buy a meal and receive a second one free of charge, the release states, and they’ll have a chance to win free wings for a year.

“Opening an Epic Wings in Florida marks an exciting time in the company’s growth,” President Rob Streett states in the release. “Epic Wings is well positioned to bring our always fresh, best-selling wings to new markets, and the Clearwater community is an excellent fit for us. We look forward to becoming this community’s go-to neighborhood spot for wings and family fun.”