Happiness is a free lunch in Glendale Heights

Servers at WingTown Grill in Glendale Heights should have stretched out before getting to work Friday.

A lunchtime promotion had them lugging nearly 200 pounds of free chicken wings and another 200 pounds of free fries.

"Our wings are bigger and juicier than our competition, that's why we sell them by the pound," explained WingTown co-owner Chris Mau.

In all, 389 customers walked into the eatery at 1177 Bloomingdale Road hungry and left with a full belly and a full wallet. WingTown Grill was offering the first 500 lunchtime visitors a free half pound of wings and a free half pound of fries. The retail value of the giveaway was more than $2,300.

"Obviously we want to promote the business, but it's also a way to help people out when times are tough," Mau said.

Kathleen Henson, whose Henson Consulting firm in Wheaton helped WingTown dream up the free lunch idea, said honey barbecue and hot wings were the big sellers Friday.

"I don't know which one sold the most, but those were the orders we heard most," she said.

The restaurant holds only 55 people at a time, and Henson said it was mobbed from 11:30 a.m. and into the afternoon. Mau said they brought in extra servers for the event.

WingTown Grill opened in October. It's the only location for Mau and his partners.