Wingstop was founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, as a restaurant specializing in chicken wings.
The original restaurant opened with an aviation-themed interior and a menu centered on cooked-to-order wings. Its décor drew on the look of the 1930s and 1940s aviation era, giving the new chain a recognizable identity beyond its food.
Wingstop’s concept emphasized multiple wing flavors and side dishes rather than a broad general-purpose fast-food menu. The company later expanded through franchising, making the brand widely available outside its original Texas market.
The founding year is distinct from Wingstop’s later public-company history and international expansion. Those developments describe the chain’s growth, while Garland identifies the location where the franchise concept began.