Employees from the shuttered Detroit Wing Company locations spoke out about the sudden and shocking news they received hours before their work shifts. The franchisee operator made the difficult decision to close three outlets in Davison, Grand Blanc, and Oxford over the weekend.
Alex Hinton, the former kitchen manager at the Grand Blanc location, expressed his disbelief and sadness. “I was just like, ‘That’s a bit of a shock,” he told WNEM news. He recalled the owners’ tearful explanation of their decision: “I got a call and we got some news and we had to make a business decision, and we’ll be closing effective immediately.”
Hinton worked at the Detroit Wing Company for two years and managed the kitchen during three Super Bowls. He shared a post on Facebook expressing his pain and the owners’ struggles.”It comes down to business and money running out,” he said. “I listened through the tears of the owners as they tried to explain how and what went on.”
A manager at another closed location, Ashlee Renee Hull, reflected on her “three beautiful years” at the wing company. She expressed her disappointment and gratitude in a Facebook post: “It’s been one hell of a night and a longer day trying to process the change.”
Fellow employees praised the owners for their kindness and support during the closures. One said, “We spent hours just talking and crying in Davison last night. The owners were more worried about their staff and their families than what was happening with them. They are truly amazing people.”
A corporate spokesperson for the Detroit Wing Company confirmed the closures and stated that they were made by the franchisee. The company expressed regret and sympathy for those affected and said they are working to reopen the locations as soon as possible.
