BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — Whether it’s their many flavors of wings, fries or that ranch dip, at this point, just about everyone in town has had a taste of Wingstop’s menu.
The one who brought the Texas-based chain to Kern County? A social worker for nearly 30 years in Los Angeles, whose heart has always been here at home.
“Sometimes I think people think that I moved to Bakersfield, but I actually grew up in Bakersfield,” said Deanna Lewis, owner of the Wingstop franchises in town. “I moved away for college, but my heart has always been Bakersfield.”
After her career, Lewis found a new passion.
“I fell in love with wings,” said Lewis. “So that gave birth to going into the franchise business opportunity.”
That opportunity has grown into a successful business venture. Since the first location opened on Gosford Road, four more have joined her operation, with a sixth now under construction. Not only that, but two of the five established locations are among the nation’s best performing Wingstops.
“Our Panama location is now the number one performing store here in Bakersfield,” said Lewis. “Before Panama, Oswell was doing great, and [they’re] in the top 10%. There’s about 2,700 locations and we’re right there in the top, so that’s amazing.”
But it’s not just Wingstop. She’s got a handle on ice cream too, that is to say, she owns the Handel’s Ice Cream shop on Stockdale Highway. Lewis got involved with Handel’s after trying their ice cream for the first time with her nephew.
“I remember having it for the first time and saying, ‘ok, this reminds me of when I was a little girl,'” said Lewis. “We reached out to them, and they weren’t doing franchises at the time, and then they [later] reached out to us.”
And to wrap a bow on all her business success, Lewis recently was given an award to prove her efforts have been worth it: Businesswoman of the Year, from the Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. It also just so happened to be a month of particular importance to Lewis.
“To have the Hispanic Chamber recognize me in Black History Month, that was a dual celebration,” said Lewis. “It was an honor. And it was a fun night, so that was awesome.”
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