Super Bowl Sunday may not pack local sports bars and restaurants, but business is still booming—especially for take out. And especially for wings.
Wing King owner Mike Babcock has been in business for 18 years and described his typical Super Bowl Sunday as “pretty much bedlam from about 4 to 8 (p.m.).”
On a normal busy day, the Moorestown restaurant could sell anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 wings, he said. This Sunday, he’ll sell upwards of 10,000 wings.
How does he handle that kind of business?
“It’s just having enough bodies and hands moving as fast as you can,” Babcock said. “And then it’s over by like 8:30.”
Whistlers Inn in Cinnaminson takes a more systematic approach. Owner Matt Bacon has workers solely dedicated to answering phones, putting orders in, handling transactions and boxing wings. Five cooks will be on this Sunday cooking wings and making sauces.
“It’s pretty incredible,” said Bacon. “It’s crazy, but looking back on it, it’s always fun to work.”
Bacon said Whistlers will sell around 10,000 wings and has been taking orders for the past two weeks. Customers get a certain time allotted to them to pick up their wings.
“We have a different take-out area just for Super Bowl Sunday,” Bacon said, “because it’s such a big production. We like to separate it and make it go easy for everyone.”
Jeff Napoli, owner of Lord of the Wings in Mount Laurel, expects to churn out between 15,000 and 17,000 wings Sunday. He said most of that business comes from people throwing parties and ordering 50 or 100 wings at a time.
Needless to say, Wing King, Whistlers and Lord of the Wings will be swamped Sunday. If you want to avoid watching the kickoff from the checkout line, call ahead.
And know the specials before Sunday. Wing King is offering several party pack specials. Click here to see what they are.
Lord of the Wings has two specials: 100 wings, a 25-piece hoagie tray and two 2-liter sodas for $99; or 50 wings, a 20-piece hoagie tray and two 2-liters for $66.
Whistlers boasts food and drink specials for those Super Bowlers who take advantage of watching the game at their digs. Patrons can enjoy a buffet and $2 Miller Lite, Coors Lite or $3.50 Blue Moon. You’ll most likely be able to find a seat, but get there early. Bacon said even though most of their business is take-out, they do get a decent crowd for the actual game.
If you are looking for a big television and food that’s fast but want to avoid a house party, you’ll find plenty of open seats at TGI Friday’s in Mount Laurel and Iron Hill Brewery in Maple Shade.
Sathara Foxworth, Iron Hill manager, said the normally busy restaurant slows down on Super Bowl Sunday.
As far as the actual game itself, well, we’re not making any predictions. Bacon summed it up pretty nicely for all of us—“Go Eagles!”
Frank Szymkowski
7:22 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
I was invited to attend with a large gentlemans club(owner is a close friend) to go but have too much going on today.. Its a crazy time