‘Changing the narrative.’ Controversial Columbus restaurant gets new owner

The Columbus community has long complained about Wild Wing Cafe, 6525 Whittlesey Blvd. Management noticed, and in response, announced Nov. 26 they were temporarily closing the restaurant.

“Unfortunately, we had been coming up short of those goals for quite some time now and we apologize to all our patrons for doing so,” the Facebook post says. “We understand our flaws and BIG changes are coming to Wild Wing Cafe to rectify these issues!”

Now, the restaurant is starting a new era.

Mak Son, owner of Spudzilla, 6600 Whittlesey Blvd., has taken up the challenge to bring back the Wild Wing Cafe that Columbus foodies used to love. Son announced this new venture on the Wild Wing Cafe Facebook page.

“I feel your frustration! I heard you LOUD & CLEAR!” Son wrote in the post. “You all kept this Wild Wing Cafe around all these years and have every right to be upset with the subpar performance this place has been giving. I am well aware of every single issue before making this investment. I believe that I can give you a better experience as its new owner and I’m up for the challenge. I’m here to give it new life. Please give me and my crew a chance. We will work hard to earn your business and change the narrative.”

Wild Wing Cafe is scheduled to reopen Dec. 3 at 11 a.m. Son did not respond to the Ledger-Enquirer’s requests for comment before publication.

What makes Wild Wing Cafe controversial among Columbus foodies?

Columbus foodies have mentioned several issues they have had with Wild Wing Cafe. Underneath the temporary closure announcement Facebook post made Nov. 26, customers complained about bad service, low food and drink quality and music being too loud to enjoy their meal.

Brad Hopkins wrote, “Last two times I went: we waited at our table for 30 minutes and no one ever came so we left. Also the music was uncomfortably loud. Next, my dad and I both had beers that tasted terrible; it was obvious the tap lines were not cleaned in a long time. Instead of just getting us another beer the server and the manager took incredible offense and made a huge hassle out of getting us different beers.”

David Josey wrote, “Management management management..... I have been around since its opening. Yes, I’m a regular. Every time they try to ‘change’ to save the place they keep the same employees. It’s not hard to tell why the business is not running right. Hire new people, management and employees. They have destroyed the Wild Wing name. Bad food, bad service and to top it all bad manners. Plain rude.”

Janet Howell wrote, “We used to go there all the time, but the food and service, along with some of the clientele, went downhill. The music was too loud as well, to where you could barely carry on a conversation. Hoping it comes back to the old WWC we used to know and love. We have several friends who took their business somewhere else as well. Pray they get it right this time after the reset!”

Customers’ thoughts on Wild Wing Cafe’s new era

Customers have expressed mixed feelings about the cafe’s new era.

Some customers are still critical.

“You can put lipstick on a pig and it’s still a pig,” Charles Lawhon wrote in the comments of the Wild Wing Cafe Facebook page on Nov. 28. “Gotta long way to go. Customer service, friendly staff, and less [complaining] by employees would be a great start.”

“I won’t be going even if it’s under new ownership,” Carson Parker wrote under the same post. “This is just diabolical.”

Other customers expressed their support and willingness to try the restaurant again under Son’s management.

“Just let us know when the line dance nights are!” Kaiyahna Aiyori-Marley wrote under Son’s announcement post No.v. 26. “We’ll show up and show out.”

“I can say that I have been working with Mak and seeing the things that he has been doing,” Justin Hampton wrote under the same post. “From cleaning/sanitizing, replacing things that had no place still being there, and finding only the best staff to help him make it a great place to work and enjoy. I personally can’t wait to see it when he is up and running. Not to mention that if there is a problem and he is made aware, he will address it in a timely manner. Let’s make WWC the best it’s ever been and stop living in the past and move forward.”

Wild Wing Cafe is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. According to its website, the restaurant chain has 17 locations in six Southeast states. The Columbus franchise opened 10 years ago.