In the midst of the Covid epidemic, restrapreneurs David and Meggan Sandusky are launching yet another business, this one based on pick-up and delivery of a universally loved staple, the chicken wing. (In June, they announced plans to open Southern Kitchen & BBQ in Columbia, Illinois, an offshoot of their Belleville-based flagship, BEAST Craft BBQ. Southern is slated to debut late next month.)
The chicken wing concept, called Wing Runner, will be based inside the couple’s other business, BEAST Butcher & Block, located in The Grove. “Same building, same labor, same kitchen, same fryers, but a different business,” David explains. “It won’t be branded as BEAST, so it’s like a ghost kitchen concept in that regard.”
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After going through “1000 different name ideas, we determined that almost every clever and cutesy chicken wing moniker had already been used,” and then they came up with Wing Runner to play off the delivery aspect. Meggan devised a cartoonish logo featuring a high-top, Converse-like delivery vehicle.
The menu was a collaboration between BEAST exec chef Ryan McDonald and David, who’s a staunch advocate of “doing things right or not at all.” The wings are cage-free, antibiotic/hormone-free, and “disjointed jumbo” in size. They’re smoked, fried and tossed in one of nine different sauces, each with a complementary garnish: Dry-Rub Original (pickled celery); St. Louis-Style BBQ (dill pickles); Spicy Mustard Rub (bread & butter pickles mustard seed); Classic Buffalo; Habanero Jerk (extremely hot Thai Chili); Smoked Garlic Butter (parsley, cotija cheese); Char Siu (sesame seed, green onion); Fish Sauce Caramel (basil, green onion); Roasted Shishito Lime (mint leaves).
“I’ll let you in on a little secret,” David said. “When smoking wings, you need to cook ’em to 185 degrees, which will tenderize the meat but not dry it out. Then you deep fry ‘em to add texture.”
The bone-in wings are available in several sizes (5, 10, 15, or bulk) and can be combined with fries/chips and an Excel fountain drink. A vegetarian option—smoked cauliflower—is also available with the same sauces and garnish, and future additions include a boneless wing option.
Guests order in advance online and then can either pick-up at the Beast food window or request delivery (through Postmates). Wing Runner launches August 11. The hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.
“People are gravitating toward the basics, especially now. Burgers, pizza, tacos, BBQ, chicken wings…” Sandusky says. “We thought a laser-focused, gourmet concept in that realm would be a good way for us to spread our… Never mind.”
