Olathe opening: Popular chicken chain flies deeper into JoCo; its first franchisee isn’t just winging it
May 14, 2025 | Startland News Staff
Joe Finch got his start in the food industry bussing tables. This weekend, he’ll open his own restaurant in Olathe — capitalizing on the popularity of spinout success WingStand by opening the brand’s first franchise location.
WingStand Olathe is set to debut Saturday at 119 South Mur-Len Road, offering an order of free wings to WingStand app users at its grand opening event.
Click here to sign up for the WingStand app.
WingStand is owned by Lawrence-based Jefferson’s Restaurants, and is known for its quick, approachable dining experience and bold flavors. The restaurant offers boneless, bone-in, crispy, traditional, and even soy-based veggie wings. The menu also features Certified Angus Beef smashburgers and hand-breaded chicken sandwiches and tenders.
Click here to order or learn more about WingStand.
A spread of menu items from chicken spot WingStand, which also now boasts Certified Angus Beef smashburgers; courtesy photo
“WingStand is first and foremost a neighborhood place,” Finch said. “We’re really excited to connect with our new community in Olathe, and we couldn’t think of a better way than by sharing our favorite food: wings.”
Finch previously served as general manager of WingStand’s food truck and off-site catering services, as well as a stint at WingStand’s original location in Mission and a former location on State Line Road.
WingStand’s restaurant at 5438 Johnson Dr. remains a corporate-owned location.
A local to Kansas City, he worked his way up through the ranks of the restaurant business, from clearing tables to serving and hosting, then eventually bartending and management.
Michael Brown, director of operations for WingStand (and who oversaw the launch of the first location in Mission) is Finch’s operating partner in the new venture.
The new space at 119 South Mur-Len Road previously was home to Fire Jerk Grill Jamaican Cuisine and, before that, a Little Caesars shop.
2025 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Scout charts pre-seed funding from Midwest investors at KCRise Fund, eGrowth Ventures
The just-announced pre-seed round for an emerging innovator in veterinary medicine software is expected to help the Kansas City-built startup deepen its product capabilities, further strengthen its core technology, and strategically grow its team to meet rising demand. “Closing this round gives us the resources and momentum to execute on our mission,” said Dr. Gonzalo…
Keystone launching corporate engagement accelerator to boost low-friction startup collabs
Kansas City’s entrepreneurial ecosystem gets its fair share of positive press thanks to a decade of momentum, Kevin McGinnis noted, but the region’s ability to scale innovative ideas to their potential remains stalled because corporations and startups lack an easy on-ramp for collaboration. “We have been listening for years to the ecosystem, to the community,…
Just funded: AltCap Your Biz cycles trio of winners from KC’s diverse hospitality scene
Persistence pays off, said Ruben Alonso, celebrating a decade of the AltCap Your Biz Pitch Competition and its role as an energy boost for Kansas City small businesses. The latest winning founders walked away with $60,000 in checks Wednesday at Union Station. Two of this year’s top three winners were returning finalists, the AltCap CEO…
Innovation check(s): Angels scout potential KC investments at NXTUS nano-pitch event
A startup showcase Tuesday in the heart of Johnson County’s innovation community put impact on display as NXTUS’ Accelerate Venture Partners organized a nano-pitch event for its network of angel investors amid Global Entrepreneurship Week-Kansas City festivities. The Wichita-based entrepreneurial support organization — which has mobilized over $8.5 million for entrepreneurs in the Heartland since…