Northeast Pennsylvania is about to crown a “King of Wings.”
After more than 110,000 votes online so far, the contest shifts Thursday to a rivalry between Luzerne County and Lackawanna County — for the first time ever.
Haggerty’s of Scranton won the Lackawanna County match up organized by the NEPA Chicken Wing Bulletin as part of the group’s second NEPA Wing Madness contest hosted online.
Finns Cafe 99 of Wilkes-Barre, the defending champion, and Murphy’s Pub of Swoyersville were locked in a tight battle Wednesday for the Wyoming Valley crown.
Now, the chicken wing border wars start — the Luzerne County champion versus the Lackawanna County.
No matter who won or who lost during this weeks-long competition, most everyone says the contest has increased bar and wing business from Carbondale to Shickshinny thanks to a small army of wing warriors.
“Every bar is packed. They are slammed,” said Matty Centak, of Hanover Twp., an administrator of the NEPA Chicken Wing Bulletin “Every bar owner in the area is calling us, thanking us.”
The NEPA Chicken Wing Bulletin Facebook page has gained thousands of new followers during the past few weeks, up to around 30,000 followers.
The members treat evaluating chicken wings multiple time a week as a hobby.
”We have a good following, a steady core. Hundreds of guys. They go out and travel all week,” Centak said.
Centak and another administrator created the annual Swoyersville Wing Fling, which has become a popular summer festival in the Wyoming Valley.
Last year, Finns won the title in the inaugural NEPA Wing Madness that was coordinated to run with the NCAA Basketball March Madness tournament.
Jimmy Finn said the honor was life and business-changing for his establishment, requiring him to hire more staff.
The staff at Haggerty’s Tavern in Scranton has realized the phenomenon of the NEPA Chicken Wing Madness challenge.
An already popular business in the city, Haggerty’s has experienced a surge in customers in recent weeks, owner Tony Konasavage
“It definitely helped. People are coming from all different area and are trying places they never normally heard of,” Konasavage said.
To vote for the finals, go to the “NEPA Chicken Wing Bulletin” Facebook page and click on “Featured.”
Konasavage said the competition inspired him to visit his competitor many times.
“It gets the owners out to other places. We went up to the Peanut Bar the other day. We just went to the Patch, which are friends. It’s about getting out and supporting other businesses and staff. I’m in my kitchen a lot so I like when I can get out,” Konasavage said. “Theres a lot of chain restaurant that people default go it. They don’t think of going to the local people. We don’t have big marketing budgets like Buffalo Wild Wings. Things like this supporting local business help.”