After nearly 15 years of working in the pizza industry, Robert Reed decided he was ready to try something new when he saw a “for sale” sign go up in the former Wings To Go spot in Kyle.

Reed bought the restaurant location in the Kyle Marketplace shopping center and opened his first Wicked Wings location in February 2017. Now, a year and a half later, Reed owns three locations; his other two Wicked Wings restaurants are in South Austin.

“I started working for Domino’s when I was 19,” Reed said. “I franchised by the time I was 25, and eventually I got tired of it. I wanted to try something new.”

Reed’s entrepreneurial side started in high school, when he built computers at home at the age of 16. Now he operates as the sole owner and jack-of-all-trades for Wicked Wings, overseeing construction of the new location, serving customers, bartending and cooking.

“I do a little bit of everything,” Reed said.

Reed’s family is getting involved with the restaurant now too, with his cousin Mike Randall managing the Kyle restaurant while Reed heads up the newest location in south Austin. Several other family members are working for Wicked Wings too, including Randall’s wife and daughter, and Reed’s nephew.

Wicked Wings retains some of Reed’s past restaurant experience, serving up a variety of pizzas alongside the menu of chicken wings and sauces. Reed said one of his favorite menu items is the Philly Melt, featuring house-made queso in the place of traditional provolone.

Everything is made-to-order with fresh meats. The sauces are house-made as well, including the Wicked Hot sauce. Reed offers a challenge for those who love spicy wings: Anyone who can eat 12 Wicked Hot wings in 30 minutes—without any dips/dressing and without a drink—will get their picture up on the Hall of Flame.

“It’s made from a blend of peppers,” Reed said. “Some jalapeno, maybe some Carolina Reaper, it’s a house secret. I can only eat about five of these before it gets too hot for me.”

Televisions are located throughout the casual restaurant and bar to entertain  sports fans. Wicked Wings also holds weekly events such as karaoke nights on Fridays and poker nights on Tuesdays, inviting guests to enjoy an experience along with their food.

Wicked Wings
5401 FM 1626 Ste. 305, Kyle
512-262-7957
www.wickedwingstexas.com
Hours: Sun.-Thur. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-2 a.m.