Jaguars Wingin’ it to new restaurant

For the past week-and-a-half, students have been wingin’ it across the hump to try out Scotlandville’s hottest new restaurant, Empire Wingz.
Former Southern student and co-owner of Empire Wingz, Victor Smith says that the idea to open up a wing restaurant came about after selling wings outside his night club.
“I wanted to find a way to get people to drink more at my club,” said Smith, “So I had a guy come to my club and sell his wings.”
Smith said that after he tasted his partner Derrick Revishs’ wings, he knew that this was bigger than just “selling wings behind a club.”
Smith added that after seeing the reception for the wings that opening up a business was a no-brainer.
Speaking of his partner Smith says, “My mom says he’s the face and I’m the taste”
Smith, who attended Southern University in 2004 and 2005 majoring in business, says that he has always been an entrepreneur by heart.
“I’ve never enjoyed punching the clock for someone else,” said the restaurant owner.
That determination shows because in just the few weeks that Empire Wingz has been open, business has been very good. So far Empire Wingz has been very successful.
“About 60 percent of his customers are Southern students,” said Smith “Business is through the roof and the support is crazy.”
A fact that rings true not only because the parking lot of Empire Wingz is constantly full, but when you enter, fellow classmates, friends and associates are forming lines along the walls.
Junior Criminal Justice major, Alisha Celestine, was visiting Empire Wingz for the third time and spoke on how convenient it is having a wing restaurant so close to campus.
“To me I think it’s really nice, they don’t have a lot of restaurants on this strip, so this is a good place to come to,” said Celestine while waiting on her 8-piece order of garlic parmesan wings.
Celestine added that there aren’t a lot of good wing places in Baton Rouge and that she considers Empires’ some of the best.
It was this support from students that led Smith and his partner to give back.
As a show of appreciation, Smith along with friends and employees gave away 500 plates of wings to hungry Southern students outside the Smith – Brown Memorial student union Friday afternoon.
“I went to Southern so I know it’s hard on college students,” said Smith “So I thought about how that would really help them out and they would support us even more.”
Smith says that it was important for him to open his wing restaurant right off of campus after seeing how Baton Rouge native Todd Craves got his start, opening the first Raising Canes restaurant right off LSU’s campus.
Smith says that his advice for other students who might want to start their own business in the future is to have a plan, never doubt yourself, and execute it.
“I want to see empire wings all over the country,” said Smith
Smith also made bold claims about his wings and how they stacked up to the competition.
“Empire Wingz are the best in the country,” said Smith “I can’t say world because I haven’t been all across the world, but I have been all across the country and these are the best.”
Baton Rouge resident Darius Brooks, who was trying out Empire Wingz for the first time say that he did so because everyone had been talking about them.
“It’s getting a lot of support from everybody in the community,” said Brooks, “Everybody in Baton Rouge is talking about these wings,” he finished.
Smith also wants Southern University students to know that Empire Wingz will be looking to hire Southern students who may be looking for employment.
Students or Staff hoping to catch a bite to eat Smith’s and Revish’s wings have quite the time to do so.
Empire Wingz is open Monday thru Thursday 10:30 AM to midnight, Friday and Saturday, 10:30 AM to 3 AM and Sunday, 11AM to midnight.