Scooter’s Coffee and Woodie’s Wings Enhance Oswego’s Gas N Wash Experience

The Gas N Wash in Oswego, located at the northeast corner of Orchard and Mill roads, has transformed into a vibrant dining destination with the recent addition of Scooter’s Coffee and Woodie’s Wings. Both establishments officially opened in September 2023, making this the first Scooter’s Coffee in the village and further diversifying the offerings at Gas N Wash, which opened its doors earlier this year.

On November 14, 2023, the Oswego Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the openings of these new ventures. Woodie’s Wings, a quick-service offshoot of Woodie’s Flat in Chicago, offers a menu featuring chicken wings, beef fat fries, chicken sandwiches, pretzels, and milkshakes.

Oswego Village Administrator Dan Di Santo, who is also on the board of directors for the Oswego Chamber, expressed his enthusiasm after sampling the wings. “I consider myself to be a wing aficionado,” Di Santo remarked. “These wings are fantastic. The sauce is phenomenal. It has just the right amount of heat, and the flavor is there.”

Alex Kugar, Chief Financial Officer of Gas N Wash, highlighted the positive response from customers since the new tenants began operations. “Things have been really great,” Kugar stated. “We’re fortunate to have great tenant partners in Scooter’s and Woodie’s Wings.” This marks the first location for Woodie’s Wings in the region, with plans for expansion into North Aurora and Wheeling.

Kugar emphasized the aim to offer unique experiences to customers. “We’re excited to bring some new concepts to the community that are different and hopefully enhance our customers’ shopping experience,” he said.

Scooter’s Coffee operates as a drive-thru-only franchise, allowing customers to conveniently pick up their drinks from a window on the north side of the building. The franchise prides itself on using only the top 10% of specialty coffee beans globally, ensuring a quality product for coffee enthusiasts.

The founder and CEO of Woodie’s Wings, Arthur Holmer, has personal ties to Oswego, as his wife’s family has been long-time residents. “It’s a great community, and we thought our brand would do really well here,” Holmer noted regarding the decision to establish the first location of Woodie’s Wings in Oswego.

The wings served at Woodie’s Wings are prepared through a meticulous process that involves smoking and double-frying, taking a total of 36 hours to complete. “The product tastes different than others in the marketplace,” Holmer stated. “We believe it’s a better product, in our humble opinion. Our fries are made with beef fat, so the fries taste different.”

Oswego Economic Development Director Kevin Leighty remarked on the significance of Gas N Wash and its tenants for the growing Orchard Road corridor. “Orchard Road has been up and coming for a while now,” he said. “This is one of the last big pieces that had been undeveloped, so they made a substantial investment into not only Orchard Road but also the greater Oswego area.”

The addition of Scooter’s Coffee and Woodie’s Wings to the Gas N Wash not only enhances the convenience store’s offerings but also reflects the ongoing development and investment in the Oswego community. With continued growth in the area, these new dining options are poised to attract both residents and visitors alike.