Wingstop is bringing its bold flavours westward with a flagship location set to open at Calgary’s CF Chinook Centre, marking a significant milestone in JPK Capital’s growth strategy.
The upcoming Chinook location will be the company’s largest in Canada at 5,200 square feet and is expected to open by the end of Q1 2026. While timelines remain fluid due to a “significant overhaul to the exterior,” franchise partner Matt Jenkyns confirmed the site is being developed as the brand’s Canadian flagship.
“Our location at the Chinook Centre will be Wingstop’s first flagship in Canada,” said Jenkyns, Chief Operating Officer, Wingstop Canada at JPK Capital. “Alongside our 12 crave-worthy flavours, we are serving up a new design centered around elevating the experience for our fans.”
The store will debut a completely reimagined design — the first of its kind in Canada — inspired by JPK Capital’s recent expansion into Australia.
Jenkyns, who attended the May opening in Sydney, said the brand returned to Canada determined to raise the bar.
“Despite being only three years old in Canada, we wanted to reinvest into elevating the experience for our guests,” he said.
“What we’re unveiling at Chinook will be the first true reflection of that new vision.”
The Chinook flagship is part of a wider push into the Calgary market and beyond, with other locations opening at Deerfoot Meadows and on 17th Avenue SW. Future sites are being scouted in Calgary’s northwest and southwest.
This western expansion marks Wingstop’s first move outside Ontario since entering Canada in June 2022 with a location at Bloor West Village in Toronto. The brand currently operates 15 Canadian stores and expects to have 19 open by year-end, with new sites coming to London, Hamilton, Toronto, and Oshawa.
“In Ontario, we’re sprawling out by roughly 200 kilometres in all directions,” said Jenkyns. “Our 15th location was in Kingston, right off Queen’s University campus.”
The Canadian roadmap includes a minimum commitment of 100 units, with plans to break ground in other parts of Canada within the next year. The strategy emphasizes high-visibility, high-traffic real estate, with Jenkyns citing partnerships with Cadillac Fairview and as part of the flagship rollout.
“Our objective in some of these mall locations is to have both interior and exterior-facing units,” he noted.
While core locations typically range from 2,400 to 2,800 square feet, the Chinook store’s expanded footprint reflects its status as a showcase for the brand’s elevated experience.
“The craveable menu and experience at our restaurants have carved out a special place for Wingstop in Canada – not just participating in cultural happenings, but driving them.” said Jenkyns. “We’ve positioned ourselves as a cultural hotspot, tailored to a Gen Z audience.”
Ahead of the Chinook opening, Wingstop plans to host a VIP launch event with a full unveiling of the new store design, offering early access to media and local influencers.
Founded in 2017 by entrepreneur Joe Poulin, JPK Capital is a single-family office focused on long-term value creation through investments in hospitality, technology, and insurance. With a commitment to seeding and scaling iconic brands globally, JPK Capital holds the exclusive Master Development Rights for Wingstop in Canada and Australia through its investment platform, Honey Garlic Holdings. Led by experienced investors and operators, HGH provides strategic oversight, operational excellence, and exceptional guest experience, positioning itself as a leading platform for Wingstop in key international markets. The company owns and operates all Wingstop restaurants in Canada since its inception in 2022 and is planning to open more than 200 locations across Canada and Australia over the next decade, delivering on Wingstop’s vision to Serve the World Flavour.
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