Wings ‘n Things

WASILLA — With secret sauce and all, an old Anchorage favorite is storming the Wasilla chicken wing market.

A week ago, Wings ‘n Things opened the doors to its newest location on the corner of Boundary Street and the Parks Highway. As the name implies, they are serving up chicken wings ranging from mild to “nuke” and 19 different sandwiches including the 12-inch philly cheese steak loaded with half a pound of beef.

But those in the know, know these aren’t just any wings.

“It’s just the sauce,” owner Tracy Olsen said. “They aren’t coming for the chicken. It’s just the sauce.”

This sauce created an almost religious fan base when the original Wings ‘n Things location opened in downtown Anchorage in 1983. Co-owner Joe Connelly knew he struck an addictive nerve with his recipe, and as such, he never divulged the ingredients even to his most trusted staff.

Then, in 2008, Connelly abruptly shut his doors without explanation. Dedicated wing nuts were crushed.

“When it closed, it was a shocker to everyone. People were pretty upset,” Olsen said.

Trying to fill the void in the wing world, Olsen said he approached Connelly with the possibility of opening a new shop with the old recipe. Olsen said Connelly resisted the idea at first, and he thought the idea died before it even began. Then, Olsen said, Connelly called back.

After 16 months of being closed, Olsen opened a new Wings ‘n Things on the corner of Arctic Avenue and 36th on Jan. 29, 2009. Olsen runs the restaurant, but Connelly remains on as a special consultant, largely because he still refuses to give up the sauce recipe.

“Once we pay the business off, we get the recipe,” Olsen said.

Olsen said the new restaurant was received very well by the old fans. He said he still gets critics saying the sauce is not as good as it once was. But, they get real quite when they find out Connelly still makes the sauce.

After franchising the name and sauce to another shop that opened on 6th Avenue, Olsen started to hear requests for a location in the Mat-Su Valley. A Valley resident himself, he decided to give it a shot.

The Wasilla Wings ‘n Things opened Jan. 30 in the space previously occupied by Great Bear Brewing Company. New flooring, new light fixtures and a repainted the interior to give the space a fresh, bright feeling. The staff spent the first week working through all the kinks of the new location.

“We are really trying to watch what we are doing,” Olsen said. “We know it’s going to be big, and we want it done right.”

Wings ‘n Things held a grand opening ceremony Friday to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the first Anchorage location. Today, although typically not open on Sundays, the shop is open and will have the Super Bowl playing on all televisions.

Editor’s Note: Check the business page next Sunday for a story on the second coming of a brewery next door to Wings ‘n Things.

Contact Todd L. Disher at todd.disher@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.