East Coast Wings + Grill to Enter Florida with First Tallahassee Location

New Location Details

The Patel family brings cross-industry operating experience to the agreement:

• Vimal Patel owns a grocery store and gas station in South Carolina and operates Little Caesars and Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise locations.

• Ajay Patel began his career in business and finance at JPMorgan Chase before moving into retail and restaurant investment, including ownership of a liquor store.

• Ankit Patel has owned and managed a wide variety of businesses, such as motels and gas stations along with his newest venture into liquor store ownership with Ajay.

Together, the family contributes to ECW+G's portfolio with the aim of offering a destination for dining and gatherings.

"What stood out to us was the combination of great food and a concept that works for everyone," said Vimal. "Families, students and friends can all feel comfortable here, and the quality of the food speaks for itself. Tallahassee is a growing market, and we saw a strong opportunity to bring this kind of experience to the community."

Florida Market Growth

The Franchising Economic Outlook shows that Florida is top in the ranking for franchise growth in the nation this year. Key drivers include:

• Sustained population growth across major and mid-sized metros

• A business-friendly regulatory environment

• Rising consumer demand for premium, full-service food concepts

• A diverse dining base supported by tourism and college markets

Expansion Strategy

"Our brand is extremely disciplined; we move into new growth using unit level of economics and with the correct candidate as our macro barometer. Florida is a priority market for us as we expand into high-potential communities across the Southeast," said Sam Ballas, CEO and Founder of ECW+G. "Tallahassee fits that profile, with its growing population, strong college presence and diverse dining scene. We're proud to partner with Vimal, Ankit and Ajay as they expand the brand to the state."

"Franchise development comes in several structures, and my best years in new growth have been the years when we outsourced our franchise development department. Partnering with Dine Growth Group (DGG), led by Chief Development Officer Carrie Evans, has been a welcomed addition," added Ballas.

With a disciplined approach to development, ECW+G will continue to pursue strategic, density-driven growth in markets that align with its operational and supply chain strengths throughout the South and Midwest. Known for its 50+ flavors and seven heat levels of award-winning wings, along with a thoughtfully crafted, family-friendly menu, ECW+G has earned numerous accolades in recent years for system performance, franchisee satisfaction and concept innovation. The brand continues to strengthen its regional footprint while progressing with a scalable and financially resilient restaurant model.