One of the many chicken restaurants along Gratiot north of Interstate 696 stands out from the crowd—and it’s not because of the spicy chicken wings, but rather because of the staff and mission of this Roseville location.
Last year, Detroit Wing Co. turned that store over to Rising Stars Academy, a nonprofit that provides educational opportunities for adults with disabilities. A new Detroit Wing Co. store costs between $339,839 and $572,339, according to the company, and the franchise fee is $30,000.
Not only does Rising Stars get to keep the profits from this fast-casual eatery—which sells chicken wings alongside classic barbecue sides like fries and coleslaw—it also gets to staff it with its adult students.
One of the store’s employees, Joe Tancredi, a 37-year-old with special needs, says his employment at Detroit Wing Co. gives him confidence. His coworkers say they enjoy having him around and that he does quite a bit in the store.
“Kids with special needs don’t usually get opportunities like this, so this is a great opportunity for us and for me to show the world what I can do and show people what people with special needs can really do when they put their minds to it,” said Tancredi, who describes himself as a “jack of all trades.” “I take orders, fry the chicken, brine the chicken, put cookies on the trays, bake the cookies.”
Tancredi has been with DWC for about four months and said he has learned a lot, including what temperature to cook the chicken at and how to prepare it.
“I’ve gained quite a lot of confidence not only at work but also in myself,” he said. “I stand up for myself a little more than I used to and, to be honest, I’m extremely proud of myself. And everyone who knows me is proud of me. My mom said the other day that she’s proud of me because I work.”
Gus Malliaras, founder of Detroit Wing Co., said he has always had a connection with people with disabilities, dating back to the time when he attended elementary school in his hometown of Grosse Pointe and assisted in the special education classes.
“These kids are great. They do a really good job,” he said of the staff at Rising Stars Academy in the Roseville Detroit Wing Co. “I always like to stress that there are no shortcuts here. It’s run by a school for children with special needs, but they do everything the same way it’s done at any other place. Everything is done from scratch. They do the real work. It’s just great to see them take ownership and take so much pride in it.”
Of DWC’s 30 locations, this Roseville restaurant is the only one that has been turned over to a nonprofit organization. Malliaras donated the location to Rising Stars a year ago after developing a relationship with them as a supplier. Rising Stars Academy students also operate a wholesale bakery that supplies bread products to about 100 restaurants and other customers in the Detroit metropolitan area.
“Rising Stars owns this location like any other franchisee,” Malliaras said. “All the profit the store makes belongs to them.”
“People have these preconceived notions about their disabilities. It’s great to come here and see that the experience is no different than anywhere else. They are just as capable, if not more capable.”
This isn’t the first food business that Rising Stars has operated. Co-founder Deborah Prentiss said the school has a few cafes that employ students. Having Detroit Wing Co. join last year was a win, she said.
“It’s going very well,” she said. “Three of our students are already working there. That’s the point of these companies: to provide employment opportunities for our students.”
Prentiss founded Rising Stars with her husband, Mark Prentiss, who has decades of experience as a chef. She shared Malliaras’ sentiment that adults with special needs often exceed expectations. Currently, in addition to Tancredi, they have two other employees working part-time in Roseville and three more in training.
“Our students are very good employees. They are very focused. They are always there, it becomes their life,” Prentiss said, adding that when they are hired, they are responsible for staying on task like any other employee. If they need more training or a break, that is offered to them.
Prentiss said donating to this Detroit Wing Co. is not without its challenges, like running any business, but the benefits go beyond profits for the organization and a job for students. It’s also about visibility and setting an example for other companies looking to hire adults with special needs.
“It’s been a great thing, both in terms of the business itself and the opportunities for our kids, but the exposure also means we reach more people who understand what a great thing it is to do something like this,” she said. “We do fundraisers and stuff, and there are business people who want to support us, but when they see something like this being successful, then the business owners think, ‘Oh, maybe we can help them with something like this.'”
