Raising the Bar, Right at Home: 
Wings Pizza N Things

Wings Pizza N Things is ready for its next chapter. The restaurant's new 12,000-square-foot flagship location represents a major investment in the family business — and a significant evolution from its original address.

The goal was to create a destination that felt custom and next-level while remaining unmistakably at home in Temple. The finished space has the energy and polish of a sports bar you might find in a big city, but with the character and local connection of an establishment that has been part of the community for two decades.

For owner Mike Dent, that meant thinking beyond how the new space would look on opening day. He says, “Investing in the right building products now will save you not only a lot of time down the road — it'll save you a lot of money.” 

That approach was informed by experience. At the original location, surfaces had struggled to keep pace with the realities of a busy restaurant. “The floors wore out, the walls wore out, the tabletops break occasionally,” says Dent. The new restaurant called for a different approach: one built around materials that could maintain their appearance and performance over time.

That combination of performance and design is evident throughout the restaurant, beginning with the surfaces guests interact with most. To start, tabletops were a top priority. At the original location, tabletops had chipped and required replacement. For the new restaurant, Wilsonart® Compact Laminate in Mangalore Mango introduces a warm wood aesthetic with straight medium grain, rich auburn tones, and a simple black core that eliminates the need for edgebanding.

For the main interior bar, the team selected Haida from Wilsonart® Quartz, a bright white surface with fine short black veining that creates a Carrara marble-inspired look. Kelly Garcia, Principal Architect at Garcia Architects, says the material was selected specifically for its ability to combine a refined appearance with long-term performance.

Garcia notes, “They wanted to go with a quartz bar top so that it would be more durable, longer-lasting, and easy to clean. The marble-inspired design perfectly elevates the space and is so simple to maintain.”

The bar also highlights one of the project's most distinct applications of Compact Laminate. Behind the main bar, Forged Steel was routed to replicate the appearance of brick and create a continuous visual transition with the real brick above it. The aged, distressed character of Forged Steel gives the wall the texture and personality expected in a sports bar, while the incredible durability of Compact Laminate adds practical performance.

Ultra-durable Compact Laminate can also be found in the high-traffic restrooms, where a solid black tone was used for toilet partitions and shelving. The design creates a clean, modern look and guarantees the durability needed for one of the restaurant’s most demanding spaces.

The team also selected Wetwall waterproof wall panels in Darlington Cherry for the restroom walls. The warm, off-white cherry design showcases a refined wood aesthetic while replacing traditional tile with a surface designed for easier maintenance. For Dent, that cleanability was especially important. He says, “Wetwall is incredible. You can just hose it down, and it looks phenomenal.”

Garcia knew Wetwall would be a winner in this commercial space, since it’s engineered as a complete panel system with fewer joints and sealed seams. The waterproof panels also feature antimicrobial protection, and the system is installed with adhesive and sealant to create a complete watertight enclosure. Unlike tile, Wetwall doesn’t have grout joints to maintain. As Garcia puts it, “Since the Wetwall system is completely sealed out of the box, the staff doesn't have to scrub tile joints. That's a huge plus.”

And for a restaurant, choosing the right material is more than a maintenance benefit. It's all part of creating an environment that continues to look good and impress customers over the long term, no matter where they are in the space.

Throughout the dining room and lobby, Wilsonart HPL acoustic planks in Grey Elm add another layer of warmth and performance. The taupe woodgrain planks, with blonde highlights and subtle contrast, brings natural character to the walls and helps create a more comfortable environment. “The acoustic planks are fantastic because it’s a great design but also acts as another layer of quieting insulation,” says Dent.

Garcia saw the panels as a practical alternative to painted walls, too. She says, “Using HPL Planks is going to be a much more durable, cleanable product. The walls will require almost no maintenance, whereas painted walls would’ve required regular repainting.”

The application reflects a broader philosophy behind the project: select materials that can take on multiple roles and combine elevated design impact with lasting performance. This mindset extends to the rooftop and outdoor bars, where Thinscape® Composite Tops offer the look of natural stone in a slim 1/2-inch profile, with the performance needed for high-use spaces.

Across the restaurant, Wilsonart surfaces bring together a range of finishes, styles, and designs to create a cohesive palette. Woodgrain designs add warmth, stone designs bring a natural element, while metal and brick designs add character throughout the space. Each contributes something different while supporting the owner’s long-term vision for the restaurant.

Wilsonart and Wings Pizza N Things share deep roots in Temple, which makes the project a local example of how thoughtful material selection can help a homegrown business build for its next chapter. The new flagship is an investment in a family business that has spent two decades building a legacy in the Temple community.

That long-term vision is reflected in every material selection. A wide range of Wilsonart surfaces empowered Garcia Architects to create a highly customized environment — and gave restaurant ownership the confidence that this space can stand up to years of classic sports bar fun.