THUNDER BAY -- Wacky’s has finally opened its doors in Thunder Bay.
The highly anticipated chain restaurant, formerly known as Wacky Wings until arriving in the city, did brisk lunchtime business on Thursday, as word-of-mouth began to spread that the sports bar was ready to start serving customers.
Company owners spent up to $4 million to renovate the former Prozvita Hall at 540 High St. South, refurbishing it with a wood-themed décor, to seat 600 patrons while lining the walls with giant projection television screens, including one measuring 16 feet by 24 feet mounted above the bar.
There’s also a games room and a separate pool-table room for those looking for a slightly different style of entertainment.
General manager Bob Gashinski said they’re expecting the restaurant to be a hit with sports fans, who can watch events like this weekend’s UFC 205 for no cost, a steady stream of wings and beer just a few feet away.
“We’re fully staffed and ready to rock-and-roll,” Gashinski said.
The name change, he said, is being tested in Thunder Bay, a move to emphasize the menu is more than just wings.
Of course the juicy morsels occupy an entire page of the menu and the restaurant offers more than 100 different flavours, ranging from garlic butter parmesan and apple butter mesquite, to barbecue Habanero and coconut Thai.
But the menu, similar to a Buffalo Wild Wings south of the border, also features nachos, soup and salad, wraps and burgers.
“Everybody knows us as wings, so when we opened this location, we went with the name drop of wings because the menu is so diverse,” Gashinski said. “We’ve also got fresh pizzas we’re going to be coming out with at a later date, after we get the ground rolling here.
“The menu is way too diverse. We can’t just be known as wings.”
The restaurant will employ up to 110 people.
Wacky’s, which also has locations in North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Timmins, is open seven days a week until 2 a.m.
