The multi-store agreement will bring the first Wingstop restaurants to Colorado. The restaurant offers an aviation-themed atmosphere where the sole focus is chicken wings. The first store is expected to open this summer. The four locations will be open by first quarter 2003.

Lease negotiations are under way for the first Denver-area site. The restaurant will be at the Lakewood Crossing Shopping Center, 1057 S. Wadsworth Blvd., west of Denver. Wingstop Restaurant's real estate firm, Quine & Associates, currently is searching for other sites.

The restaurants usually perform best in in-line shopping centers and only need a small amount of space. Wingstops are generally located in areas that experience heavy evening traffic, such as strip centers with a video store or a 24-hour supermarket, says Joe Sugrue, Pinnacle's president and new Wingstop owner-operator. He says they are currently searching for sites in Aurora, Arvada, Littleton, Westminster, and metro Denver. During the past 2 1/2 years, Wingstop has opened 25 stores and has 42 additional stores under development in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Missouri and Colorado.

"Wingstop is spreading like wild fire across the country," says Sugrue. "Poultry is booming and this concept capitalizes on the trend toward spicier foods with some very addicting proprietary sauces and seasonings." Sugrue, has more than 12 years of experience, spending time in management at organizations such as Texas Land & Cattle and Six Flags Theme Parks. "I found out about Wingstop from a coworker," he says. "Once I tried it myself, I immediately began researching the business opportunity on the Web."