A brand-new dining option — and a first for Florida — is about to take flight in Venice. Wings Etc., the popular sports-bar franchise known for its wings, burgers, and laid-back game-day atmosphere, is opening its first-ever Florida restaurant right here in our community. The new location is scheduled to open on January 5 at 415 U.S. 41 Bypass N, Venice, FL 34285 , directly across from the Venice Shopping Center and easily accessible from the U.S. 41 Bypass .
This milestone location is being brought to Venice by longtime local restaurateurs Tim and Nancy McGivern, the family behind Obie’s Soup, Salad & Subs , a beloved Venice staple for more than 25 years. Their children — Megan, Brittany, and Tyler — are also deeply involved in the project, making this Wings Etc. opening a true family-run Venice venture. For many residents who already know and love the McGiverns from Obie’s, the arrival of Wings Etc. feels less like a faceless franchise landing in town and more like the next chapter of a familiar local success story.
Inside, the new restaurant is designed as a neighborhood sports bar with plenty of room to spread out and settle in. There will be seating for roughly 90 guests indoors and another 35 on the outdoor patio, giving locals the option to enjoy the breeze while catching a game. Multiple TVs throughout the dining room and bar area will keep fans locked in on every kickoff, tipoff, and final buzzer, turning the space into a natural gathering spot for football Sundays, playoff nights, and big rivalry matchups.
The menu will bring the full Wings Etc. experience to Venice, with a wide variety of bone-in and boneless wings, burgers, wraps, sandwiches, salads, and classic pub-style comfort food. Whether it’s a basket of wings with your favorite sauce, a burger after work, or a casual family dinner before a big game, the goal is to offer something for everyone in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Owner Tim McGivern has described the vision simply: a place where everyone feels welcome to watch a game with their friends and family, combining the familiarity of a national brand with the warmth and personal touch Venice residents have come to expect from his family’s businesses.
Hours are tailored with sports fans in mind. Wings Etc. Venice plans to open daily at 11 a.m., staying open until 11 p.m. from Monday through Thursday, stretching to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and closing at 10 p.m. on Sunday. The restaurant intends to remain open for major sporting events, ensuring that big games don’t end with patrons being rushed out the door. For many in the community, that combination of late hours, good food, and plenty of screens makes Wings Etc. an obvious candidate for their new go-to game-day spot.
For Venice, the opening carries a bit of added significance. As the franchise’s first Florida location, it represents a vote of confidence in the city’s growth, energy, and appeal. It adds another casual, community-friendly dining option to a corridor already busy with locals, seasonal residents, and visitors passing through. And because it’s backed by a family with deep roots in Venice, this isn’t just another chain arriving on U.S. 41 — it’s a new local hangout, built by people who have been serving this community for decades.
When the doors finally open on January 5 at 415 U.S. 41 Bypass N , don’t be surprised to see full tables, familiar faces, and a lot of excited talk about wings and the next big game.
For Venice residents, Wings Etc. is poised to become more than just another restaurant — it’s likely to be one of the city’s new favorite places to gather, cheer, and enjoy a little flavor of something new, right here at home.