Allan Appel Photo
The Lacys, Cathy Graves, Mayor Elicker, and Alder Richard Furlow.
Forty different glazes for chicken wings — ranging from mango habanero to garlic parmesan — are just not enough for fledgling and creative restauranteurs Lachelle and Linwood Lacy.
They have a still-secret 41st sauce coming, combining the best of the previous 40. It is still in the research stage, meaning only family members get to try it.
Glazes and wings galore will also be ready for upcoming Super Bowl weekend.
That was the tangy word that emerged Thursday afternoon at the grand opening of the Lacys’ new eatery, Woody’s Wings, at 1378 Whalley Ave. near the corner of Ramsdell.
The Lacys graduated fom the city’s Small Business Academy’s 11-week training program for small business owners in November. They located the former Great Wall of China restaurant on Whalley to set up their shop.
They put into practice what they had learned at the academy. They combined it with lessons learned from Linwood’s three years of cooking both for big restaurants and, before that, for family and then friends in the neighborhood. All the while, he cooked up glaze after glaze. “It’s his passion,” said Lachelle.
As he continued to cook, Lachelle enrolled in the small business academy, sharing what she learned with her husband, enrolling the help of cousins and other family members, and growing their approach. Linwood would do all the cooking, they decided. And Lachelle would be in charge of all the “back office” business stuff.
The result: A modest-sized place that has been busy since the soft opening in December, according to Linwood. Old fans mix with customers from places like Bethany and beyond who discover the restaurant on social media.
The ribbon was officially cut on the restaurant at a ceremony held Thursday afternoon.
Mayor Justin Elicker, city economic development officials, family and friends, were on hand Thursday to hail the Lacys as proof that, in the words of Acting Economic Development Administrator Mike Piscitelli, the city is as committed to nurturing as the “big shiny buildings.”
The mayor and Lachelle Lacy.
Woody’s Wings is “one of more than 500 business starts over the last year,” Piscitelli reported.
Of those about eight to 10 have been created by graduates of the academy, said Cathy Graves, its director. They include Kool Breeze, a recently opened Jamaican-style eatery down the block.
Calling himself, due to his Buffalo origins, a serious expert in the evaluation of chicken wings, Piscitelli declared to the Lacys, “You’re going to make it, because your wings are really good.
Not to be outdone, the mayor added, “I may look skinny, but I can put down some wings.”
Then he read an official congratulatory proclamation from the city/
“I’m trying to make that permit issue easier,” Elicker added. Then he double-checked that Woody’s Wings is prepared for the Super Bowl rush.
Not to worry, declared Linwood Lacy.
With the garlic parmesan glaze.
Alder Richard Furlow reported that “the whole city is talking about Woody’s Wings.” Then he put in his order for 100 wings for his family’s Superbowl party. “With all this foot traffic , you have revitalized this corner. Welcome to the 27th Ward,” Furlow said.
The Lacys invoked those who weren’t there, Lachelle’s mom in particular, who was the inspiration for the project.
The restaurant, which has seven employees, features a full fast-food menu along with the signature 40-glaze wings array. it is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 9 p.m.