Spartanburg Wild Wing Cafe Closes

Wild Wing Café in Spartanburg closed Friday after allegations that the restaurant was operating without a liquor license and without insurance.

News Channel 7 was the first to tell you about the downtown cafe’s financial troubles after workers complained about getting paid late.

Friday morning a “closed” sign went up at the restaurant.

We contacted “Wings Over America” which owns the “Wild Wing Cafe” brand.

Its law firm says it believes “that the Spartanburg Wild Wing Café Restaurant is operating as a restaurant selling food liquor and beer without a south Carolina liquor license, without workers compensation insurance, and without general liability coverage.“

In another release Friday afternoon Wings Over America says, “a new owner was willing to come in and rescue the financial troubled franchise several months ago but despite our efforts (the owners) Owenby and Erwin were unwilling to come to an agreement with any of us. It was baffling, maddening.“

Lawyers say a court action has been filed against the Spartanburg restaurant.  That’s expected to be heard next month.

“Wings Over America” contacted authorities because it thought the restaurant was violating the law and the corporation revoked the local franchise rights.

We talked exclusivly with one of the owners, Mac Erwin, who told us that they are in negotiations with another owner.  When we asked Erwin if the restaurant was violating the law, he said “no comment”.  He did say they were “about a month behind” on sales tax but had paid back a of portion of the amount, but the state wouldn’t renew the license.  Erwin went on to say that the resturant was “going to close anyway, but we had wanted to keep it open until after Christmas.“

Wings Over America is hoping to have a new franchisee to reopen the Wild Wing Cafe in Spartanburg within the next few months.