Wingstop Restaurant Closes Certain Markets To New Franchisees <b></b>

Dallas-Antonio Swad, founder of Wingstop RestaurantsInc., announced today that the company is closing the Austin, SanAntonio, Waco and Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, markets to newfranchisees. The Dallas-based chicken wing franchise has beengrowing at a rapid pace since it began offering franchises in 1998.Currently, there are 20 stores in operation and 17 more underdevelopment in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma andMissouri.

Swad explained, "We will continue to open restaurants inthe Austin, San Antonio, Waco and Dallas/Fort Worth areas; however,they will be opened by our existing franchise owners." Swaddeveloped a franchisee-friendly corporate philosophy that providescompetitive protection to existing storeowners by not allowingother franchise owners to open Wingstop stores within a three-mileradius of an existing store.

Jim Deering, the company's vice president, said, "Aslong as current eligible franchisees continue to expand in theclosed markets, we will keep them closed. We anticipate closing theHouston market in 18 months." -S. Bell Inc. PublicRelations