Video: Where my wings at?
The phone number spells it all out, plain to see, at the Hickory Hut on Dale and University, wings are the specialty.
"People love ‘em," says Hickory Hut manager Jason Mann. "Some say they're addicted to ‘em."
In a down economy the wing business, well, has taken flight. According to the Perishables Group, a Chicago-based market research firm, wing sales have grown by 109 percent over this past year. At the corner of Dale and University, that trend has meant steady sales despite down times. Chicken wings, it seems are a cheap luxury people still afford.
"Yeah, they seem to be holding back on clothes and that stuff, but, food, there's always room for it," adds Mann of the increase in wing sales at his restaurant.
But with all that demand, the price of those flappers has skyrocketed. Local suppliers estimate prices have jumped 15 percent in just the past month. And that after a steady year of price gains. And, they see the price continuing to rise — some speculate there may even be a shortage of wings come winter.
"Well, just the other day we went price shopping and found out that the price is gonna skyrocketing, or is skyrocketing as we speak," says Mann.
An independent wing shop, the Hickory Hut can't afford to continue to absorb the higher prices. Ironic as it seems, Americans have eaten our way into higher chicken wing prices.
