From Advertising to Alehouses: Eric Slaymaker on Building and Evolving Wingers Alehouse
In this episode, Eric Slaymaker, CEO & founder of Wingers Alehouse, shares his journey from advertising to building a thriving restaurant brand. Today, Wingers has expanded to 28 locations across five states, with a focus on growth in the western U.S.
Eric Slaymaker
CEO & founder, Wingers Alehouse
Eric, co-founder of Wingers Restaurant and Alehouse and Wingers USA, Inc., a restaurant concept that opened its first location in 1993 in Bountiful, Utah. Currently, there are 28 Wingers restaurants system-wide, located in 5 states. Eric serves as the CEO and Co-Chairman of Wingers USA, Inc., and Wingers Franchising, Inc. Wingers locations are currently growing in several western and northwest states. Eric is also a founder and Managing Partner of Winger Bros. Management, LLC, and the Slaymaker Group, Inc. The Slaymaker Group, Inc. also owns T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants in Utah and Idaho. Prior to founding Wingers USA, Inc., Eric operated Eric Slaymaker Advertising, a marketing & media buying agency specializing in the restaurant business.
In this episode of Restrocast, Eric Slaymaker, the driving force behind Wingers Alehouse, shares his journey from the world of advertising to building a successful restaurant brand. With early roots in marketing for his father’s franchises, Eric developed a unique perspective on branding, which later inspired him to create Wingers.
Eric dives into Wingers’ evolution, explaining how he adapted the concept into the popular Alehouse model to meet changing market demands. His conversation covers the balancing act between franchisee autonomy and brand consistency, Wingers’ feedback systems, and the importance of training in ensuring quality. Eric also reflects on leadership, sharing his commitment to sustainable growth and the continual effort to improve communication with his team.