UPDATE: Wing Port Grill & Bar Lands Near San Lorenzo

Wing Port Grill & Bar tested the waters (and wings) on Thursday, Jan. 19 with a soft opening.

Owner Jackie Wlson said the day had some minor kinks but went well overall.

"It was mostly friends and family but we had a good number of walk-ins come," he said.

He closed down today to straighten out those kinks but says Wing Port will be back in business tomorrow onward and will remain open seven days a week.

The restaurant specializes in chicken wings and waffles. Inspired by the popular food combo commonly served at Southern California restaurants like Roscoe's House Chicken and Waffles, Wilson said he's excited to bring this type of comfort fare to the East Bay.

"You think waffles for breakfast and chicken for dinner but the combination of the two — you just have to taste it," he said.

Another inspiration of Wilson opening shop near San Lorenzo was the neighboring Hayward Executive Airport. Not only does the restaurant's name tie in with the aviation theme but so does it's interior decor and the names of items on the menu.

"Since we're doing wings and we're by the airport, it was just a catchy name so we ran with it," Wilson said.

From the blue cheese and bacon "Sully Burger" to the half-pounder classic known as the "Right Brothers Burger," many dishes are named after famous pilots and airlines.

Wilson also plans to pay tribute to the , which occupied the building until 2003, by keeping pizzas on the menu.

"All the community that saw us working on [renovating the restaurant] kept asking us if we we're going to do the pizzas so we decided to go ahead and do the pizzas," he said.

He hopes to have a grand opening in February, where he will invite Alameda County officials along with the commnity members who supported him through the process of opening.

Aside from family members like his wife Fay, daughter Octavia and son Jackie Jr., he has employed between 20 to 25 part-time and full-time locals.

This is Wilson's first venture in the restaurant business. He previously was a truck driver before deciding to open his own business.

"I've taken bigger risks than this in life," he said. "I'm a very religious guy and I believe God brought me this far so why not take the opportunity to do this?"

The restaurant will cater to families and sports fans with large, affordable dishes costing around $10 and nearly a dozen flat-screen TVs. Wilson hopes to eventually have an outside patio set up by summer.

"I call ourselves the rainbow coalition — we want everyone here," he said.

Restaurant Hours:

Sunday - Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.

For more information, call 510-266-5992