Uncle Willie’s Wings opened its second Newark location at the Junction at Gateway Center this past week.
Uncle Willie’s Wings now joins a diverse lineup of restaurants including Chip City, fresh&co, Farinella Artisanal Pizza & Bakery, 375° Chicken ‘N Fries, Jersey Mike’s and Dunkin, with Mökbar and Kamasu by Kissaki coming soon.
A ribbon-cutting event brought together wing lovers, local leaders and Newark’s dining enthusiasts and included remarks by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. It marked a significant expansion for Uncle Willie’s Wings and a milestone for the Junction.
Founded in 2019, the popular wing spot was the winner of a competition announced by Onyx Equities and Baraka in 2021 that provided a space at the Junction’s Restaurant Row, fully built out and delivered to a Newark-based restaurant operator, at no upfront cost to the operator. The company prides itself on unique, original hip-hop-themed sauces including Buffalo, Lemon Pepper Wett, Roasted Garlic Parmesan, Uncle Willie’s Signature Willie’s sauce, Bitter Ex and the Queen Bee.
Founder Walter “Uncle Willie” Green is an Army veteran and philanthropist who believes that “Life is So Much Better Covered in Sauce.” He is also a 2023 graduate of Invest Newark and Interise’s Small Business Stronger Pilot program in Newark that focused on developing the leadership skills of participating business owners.
Uncle Willie’s Wings’ first location is in Newark’s South Ward at 1036 Bergen St.
“Uncle Willie’s Wings is Newark’s newest success story because of the same things that make an award-winning dish: ingredients, preparation, and presentation,” Baraka said. “In this case, the ingredients include Walter Green’s big philanthropic heart, always willing to serve the community with love. His prep included steps for collaboration with Invest Newark and entrepreneurial support programs. And the presentation is garnished with the savory flavor of ’90s hip-hop. It’s a winning combination. I congratulate Walter and his staff at Uncle Willie’s Wings and I invite anyone with an enterprising dream to take advantage of Newark’s many retail initiatives to make their dream come true!”
“It’s an exciting time for Uncle Willie’s Wings,” Green said. “Opening this second location in the downtown area is an incredible milestone. I am so grateful to Onyx and the city of Newark for helping to make this happen. We look forward to continuing to bring Uncle Willie’s flavor to more people with our takeouts and our full-service restaurant coming in 2024.”
“Walter not only has an incredible talent for cooking, but he also has a deep love for Newark and an unwavering dedication to the community,” Jonathan Schultz, co-founder and managing principal at Onyx Equities, said. “We are thrilled that Walter and his team have joined our restaurant lineup at the Junction at Gateway Center.”’
“We are proud to witness Uncle Willie’s Wings open their second location here in Newark. This expansion to the Junction exemplifies Newark’s entrepreneurial spirit, and we’re eager to see Uncle Willie’s Wings thrive. Newark is definitely open for business,” Marcus Randolph, CEO and president of Invest Newark, said.
