Local Business
Hawaiian Bros Opens First Glenwood, Illinois Location—Grand Opening Set for Feb. 16
Hawaiian Bros opens its first Glenwood, Illinois restaurant Feb. 16 with giveaways for the first 100 customers, VIP events Feb. 14, and island-inspired plate lunches.
Hawaiian Bros Opens First Glenwood, Illinois Location With Grand Opening Giveaways
GLENWOOD, Ill. — Hawaiian Bros is officially expanding its Chicagoland footprint with its first Glenwood, Illinois location, opening Feb. 16 at 18851 S Halsted St (60425).
The island-inspired fast-casual brand is marking the launch with a grand opening celebration starting at 11 a.m. on Feb. 16. Hawaiian Bros says the first 100 customers in line will receive a free t-shirt and a gift card ranging from $25 to $500 (with purchase)—and one winner will be selected for Hawaiian Bros for a year.
Ahead of opening day, the company is also hosting VIP events on Feb. 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hawaiian Bros says first responders, medical personnel, academic staff, students, and local business employees will be treated to a free classic Plate Lunch.
Hawaiian Bros is known for its island-inspired plate lunch—typically chicken or pork with sweet, savory, or spicy sauces, served with macaroni salad and steamed white rice or vegetables. For dessert, the brand highlights its Dole Soft Serve®. The company also emphasizes that it doesn’t rely on freezers or microwaves, focusing instead on fresh, high-quality ingredients.
Hawaiian Bros currently operates 70+ restaurants across 14 states and has expanded franchise opportunities since 2023.
What to watch for
- How early the line forms: The first 100 customers get the biggest perks, so timing could be everything.
- Community turnout at VIP events (Feb. 14): Free plate lunches for local groups could drive strong early word-of-mouth.
- Southland fast-casual competition: This opening adds another high-energy, limited-menu concept to the local mix—worth tracking for repeat traffic and reviews.
Learn more:https://hawaiianbros.com/
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Foodie News
Wingstop Kicks Off Football Season With Lemon Pepper Trio and First-Ever Wing Pass
Wingstop is kicking off football season with two new twists on its iconic Lemon Pepper flavor and its first-ever Wing Pass, offering select fans weekly Watch Party Bundles throughout the regular season.
Two new takes on Wingstop’s popular Lemon Pepper flavor are joining the menu as the chain rolls out a limited-edition Wing Pass aimed at football watch parties.
Football season is underway, and Wingstop is betting that wings will remain a major part of the weekly game-day spread.
The Dallas-based restaurant chain is expanding one of its signature flavors with the launch of its new Lemon Pepper Trio, featuring the familiar Original Lemon Pepper alongside two new variations: Lemon Pepper Chili Crunch and Lemon Pepper Chili Glaze.
The trio will receive an early release for Club Wingstop members beginning Sept. 10 before becoming available nationwide at participating U.S. locations on Sept. 15 for a limited time, according to the company.
Three Takes on Lemon Pepper
Wingstop’s Original Lemon Pepper combines lemon flavor with cracked black pepper in the dry rub that has become one of the chain’s best-known offerings.
The two newcomers take that familiar flavor in different directions.
Lemon Pepper Chili Crunch starts with the traditional Lemon Pepper dry rub and adds crispy Korean chili crunch, introducing additional texture and heat.
Lemon Pepper Chili Glaze goes in a sweeter and saucier direction, combining citrus flavor and sweet heat with crispy Korean chili crunch.
All three flavors can be ordered on Wingstop’s classic wings, giving customers the option of sticking with the original or trying one of the spicier variations.
“Lemon Pepper is an iconic flavor, and Wingstop is proud of the role we’ve played in bringing it to fans around the world,” Wingstop President and CEO Michael Skipworth said in announcing the promotion.
The new flavors arrive as restaurants and food brands compete for a place in one of the biggest recurring food occasions of the fall: football watch parties.
Wingstop Introduces Its First Wing Pass
Wingstop is also taking an unusual approach to football-season promotions with its first Wing Pass, essentially turning weekly wing orders into the restaurant equivalent of a season ticket.
Each Wing Pass provides access to as many as 18 Watch Party Bundles, representing one bundle for each week of the regular football season.
A Watch Party Bundle includes 20 classic wings in as many as four flavors, a large order of fries and a large ranch.
Here’s where the promotion becomes especially notable: Wingstop says the Wing Pass costs $27.99 — the price of a single Watch Party Bundle.
Only 100 passes are being made available.
Club Wingstop members can purchase the limited passes beginning Sept. 10 at noon Central Time through Wingstop’s Wingshop. Passholders will then receive a Watch Party Bundle offer through their Wingstop app account each Sunday morning during the 18-week season, subject to the promotion’s terms and conditions.
With only 100 passes available nationwide, the Wing Pass is less a traditional discount program than a limited promotional event designed to generate attention around Wingstop’s football-season push.
Wings and Football Remain a Powerful Combination
The promotion highlights just how closely chicken wings have become associated with watching football in the United States. Restaurants routinely introduce larger bundles, limited flavors and game-day promotions as fans gather at homes, sports bars and restaurants throughout the season.
For Wingstop, the strategy combines both sides of that equation.
The Lemon Pepper Trio gives customers something new to try, while the Wing Pass encourages the idea of making Wingstop part of a weekly football routine.
Founded in 1994, Wingstop has grown to more than 3,000 restaurants worldwide. The company reported more than $5 billion in system-wide sales during fiscal 2025 and has ambitions of becoming one of the world’s top 10 restaurant brands.
Whether Lemon Pepper Chili Crunch or Lemon Pepper Chili Glaze develops the following of Wingstop’s original version remains to be seen. But for Lemon Pepper fans looking for something different during football season, the starting lineup just got a little bigger.
Source: Wingstop Restaurants Inc., press release issued Sept. 9, 2026.
Availability and promotional offers may vary by participating location. The Lemon Pepper Trio is a limited-time offering while supplies last. The Wing Pass is subject to Wingstop’s official terms and conditions.
Sources
- Wingstop — Lemon Pepper Trio and First-Ever Wing Pass announcement — Wingstop’s official Sept. 9, 2026 announcement covering the Lemon Pepper Chili Crunch, Lemon Pepper Chili Glaze and Wing Pass.
- PR Newswire — Wingstop Kicks Off Football Season with New Lemon Pepper Trio and Wing Pass — Original distributed press release dated Sept. 9, 2026.
Related Links
- Wingstop Lemon Pepper Flavor Guide — Background on Wingstop’s original Lemon Pepper dry rub, including its lemon and cracked-pepper flavor profile.
- Wingstop Investor Relations — Corporate information, financial results and current company announcements.
- Wingstop News & Press Releases — Additional Wingstop product launches and company news, including its recent Carolina Gold and Jamaican Jerk promotion.
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Community
The Marco’s Pizza Foundation Donates $1 Million to Junior Achievement USA, Surpasses $1.5 Million in Total Giving
The Marco’s Pizza Foundation has surpassed $1 million donated to Junior Achievement USA, marking a major milestone for the pizza brand’s charitable organization. With the latest contribution, the Foundation says it has now delivered more than $1.5 million in total charitable giving across its partners, reinforcing a focus on education, opportunity, and community impact.
National initiative with local impact
Junior Achievement USA is one of the nation’s leading youth organizations, preparing young people for future success through hands-on learning focused on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness. Marco’s says its partnership with JA has been powered by register-based fundraising, allowing stores across the country to raise donations at checkout that support local JA chapters near each participating location.
Giving totals to date
The Foundation shared additional milestones tied to its charitable efforts:
- More than $1 million donated to Junior Achievement USA
- $475,000 donated to No Kid Hungry
- More than $1.5 million in total charitable giving across partners
Brandon Hudson, a multi-unit franchisee and newly appointed president of The Marco’s Pizza Foundation, credited guests, franchisees, and store teams for driving the results through round-up and register donation efforts.
A personal connection to Junior Achievement
Hudson said his connection to Junior Achievement is personal: as a student in the Chicago area, he participated in JA programs from his sophomore through senior years of high school, where he developed early business plans and explored entrepreneurship. Hudson now owns and operates 13 Marco’s Pizza stores, with five more in development, and was appointed Foundation president in March 2026.
What the Foundation focuses on
Guided by its mission to help individuals be fed, educated, and equipped, the Foundation says its work centers on four pillars:
- Hunger Prevention
- School & Education
- Workforce Development
- Entrepreneurship
For more information, visit https://www.marcos.com/foundation/
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Food and Beverage
Hawksmoor Boston Opens Sept. 8 in Fort Point at 15 Necco Street
Hawksmoor, the acclaimed London steakhouse, opens Sept. 8 in Boston’s Fort Point with dry-aged steaks, seafood, cocktails, and a Sunday roast tradition. Hawksmoor Boston
Last Updated on September 11, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Hawksmoor, the London-born steakhouse known for its charcoal-grilled, dry-aged cuts, is opening its first Boston location on September 8. Hawksmoor Boston is located on the ground floor of 15 Necco Street in Fort Point, with seating for 280 guests indoors and on an outdoor terrace overlooking the Fort Point Channel. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner throughout the week.
What’s on the menu
Hawksmoor says it’s bringing its “do things properly” steakhouse approach to Boston, sourcing from local purveyors using sustainable systems and dry-aging each cut for deeper flavor and tenderness. Steaks are seasoned with Maldon sea salt, cooked over high-heat charcoal, rested before serving, and paired with a side of roasted bone marrow.
The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Thomas Park (previously Saltie Girl; before that Uchi in Austin), with an emphasis on local seafood and technique. Menu highlights include charcoal-roasted scallops wild-harvested from Georges Bank and Maine lobster, plus Boston-specific additions like a Lobster Crumpetand a Beer-Battered Fish Butty made with local haddock and jalapeño tartar sauce.
Sunday Roast + cocktails
Boston will also get a classic British tradition: the Hawksmoor Sunday Roast, featuring slow-cooked dry-aged roast beef served with giant Yorkshire puddings, beef-dripping roast potatoes, vegetables, and bone marrow-onion gravy.
The bar program is led by Beverage Director Liam Davy and includes Hawksmoor staples like Shaky Pete’s Ginger Brew, Sour Cherry Negroni, and ultra-cold Direct Martinis served at -2°F, alongside Boston-inspired cocktails and local beers.
Design details + reservations
Designed with Aria Design, the space features dark blue and green paneled walls, leather and velvet seating, and wood-and-brass tabletops—no white tablecloths or black-tie formality. Reservations are now available via OpenTable.
For more information, visit www.thehawksmoor.com/us/locations/boston and follow @HawksmoorBoson Instagram.
Source
- PRNewswire / Hawksmoor press release (Sept. 2, 2026): https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hawksmoor-boston-londons-famous-steakhouse-opens-in-fort-point-on-september-8-302867194.html
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