Atomic Wings opens 8 restaurants in Q3, continues expansion

Atomic Wings, a QSR concept focused on fresh ingredients and bold flavors, today announced that it opened eight new restaurants during the just-completed third quarter of 2026. With those additions, the brand’s franchise system has grown nearly 100% this year.

The last 90 days have seen Atomic Wings openin five different states: the brand’s home of New York, New Jersey, Texas, Ohio, and South Dakota. The new locations reflect Atomic Wings’ strategy of continually strengthening its position in its core markets while also expanding into fresh states and cities nationally.

“We’re continuing to grow where our roots are strongest in New York and New Jersey, while also bringing Atomic Wings to new communities across the country,” said Zak Omar, CEO of Atomic Wings. “For us, growth has always been about finding the right markets and the right operators while staying true to the quality and authenticity that have defined this brand from the beginning.”

Atomic Wings was founded by Adam Lippin in 1989 with the mission of bringing a truly authentic Buffalo-style wing experience – which he’d come to love during his college days – to New York City and beyond. Adam emphasized powerful flavor and high-quality ingredients from the beginning, and those values still anchor Atomic Wings’ brand today.

In 2016, Zak Omar purchased Atomic Wings from Lippin and launched the brand’s national franchise system. Having worked as a QSR franchisee himself, Zak and his brother Ray built Atomic Wings’ franchise system with an emphasis on reducing costs for owner-operators by encouraging the use of second-generation locations and keeping royalties low.

Looking forward toward Q4 and beyond, Atomic Wings plans to open additional locations in markets that include Manhattan, New York; Columbus, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Little Rock, Arkansas; and the state of Minnesota, among others.

While Atomic Wings is experiencing a remarkable year for system growth, its leaders say the brand won’t lose its focus on forging strong franchise partnerships and staying authentic to the flavors and approach that have already created more than 35 years of success.