Wild Wing Cafe (“Wild Wing”), a portfolio company of Axum Capital Partners, today announced that it will be converting its Charlotte, NC, EpiCentre location from a franchised restaurant to a corporate-owned and managed operation.
As part of Wild Wing’s strategy to revitalize key locations across the country, the EpiCentre location will undergo remodeling through August 23, in time for the Democratic National Convention.
“The EpiCentre is an important location for us, and we look forward to continuing to provide our customers with a great dining and entertainment experience at this location and across our entire system,” said Muhsin “Moose” Muhammad II, a managing director at Charlotte-based Axum Capital Partners, the private equity firm that acquired Wild Wing in January.
Wild Wing Cafe currently has 34 restaurants across the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, and Florida. Since its inception in 1990, Wild Wing has established a strong brand based on its ability to offer consumers high-quality food at attractive prices. Building on this strong platform, Wild Wing is poised for substantial growth over the next several months.
“We’re totally bullish on the Charlotte market,” said Wild Wing Cafe CEO William E. Prather. “The EpiCentre location has especially strong potential because of the uptown sports activities and its proximity to the light rail line.”
Other Wild Wing Cafes in Charlotte are located in the Ayrsley (South Tryon Street at I-485) and the University City area (West Mallard Creek Church Road).
The planned remodeling will include relocation of the performance stage to further enhance the restaurant’s entertainment component, which features live local and national bands, as well as other improvements aimed at providing a great customer experience. “Wild Wing Cafe is also known for its sports emphasis, which will be highlighted in the remodeled restaurant,” said Muhammad, a former pro football player for the Chicago Bears and the Carolina Panthers.
Axum Capital Partners focuses on making strategic equity investments in lower middle market privately held businesses across North America. Axum’s target markets include fast-casual or differentiated-casual restaurants, early childhood educational services, and other markets that share similar fundamental characteristics. The firm was co-founded by Muhsin Muhammad, II (former Chicago Bear and Carolina Panther), Edna Morris (former president of Red Lobster and Quincy’s Family Steakhouse), Raymond C. Groth (former head of mergers and acquisitions at First Union/Wachovia Securities, now Wells Fargo), and Denis Ackah-Yensu (formerly with McColl Partners and Citigroup). For more information visit: www.axum-partners.com.
