1851

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/fahad-samad-647a302?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=pakistani-immigrant-expands-atomic-wings-franchise-in-nyc-2723308" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fahad Samad</a> is no stranger to the world of business. The ambitious professional has worked as a&nbsp;business analyst and project manager&nbsp;with TOPPS and Bazooka. Five years ago, he discovered an unexpected opportunity in the realm of franchising with Buffalo, New York wing franchise&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/atomicwings/info">Atomic Wings*</a>, introduced by a friend,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.atomicwings.com/blog/meet-our-ceo-zak-omar?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=pakistani-immigrant-expands-atomic-wings-franchise-in-nyc-2723308" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Zak Omar</a>, who also happens to be CEO of the brand. Now, after running the Atomic Wings location in Queens since 2018, Samad is looking to expand with another location and is working towards even greater development with the brand.&nbsp;Upon entering the world of franchising, Samad found it to be an engaging journey filled with collaborative opportunities. One of the primary aspects that drew him to&nbsp;<a href="https://atomicwingsfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=pakistani-immigrant-expands-atomic-wings-franchise-in-nyc-2723308" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Atomic Wings</a> was the brand's receptiveness to feedback and communication. He appreciated the room to grow, which he believes not only helped him develop as a business owner but also made him feel valued. The support from the franchisor, coupled with the unique concept, solidified his decision to join the brand.Now, after taking over his first location in Jamaica, NY in 2018, Samad is ready to expand his portfolio to include multiple locations throughout the city and is currently looking for the ideal location.&nbsp;1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.&nbsp;What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Fahad Samad: I was born in Pakistan. My family came to the U.S. 30 years ago and settled in Queens. I currently live in Flushing with my wife and two young children. My degree is in Information Science and Forensics from SUNY Oswego. I’ve traveled the world as a business analyst and project manager. I used to work at&nbsp;TOPPS, the trading card company. We recently split off and sold that company, so I am now working with Bazooka.&nbsp;1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Samad:&nbsp;I’ve been in the corporate world this whole time, so franchising was really a side venture. I never imagined I would do this and had no prior experience in the food business. It was not on my radar. I was introduced to the concept through Atomic Wings CEO Zak Omar, who is a friend of mine I met through basketball organizations. I didn’t think I’d be able to afford a franchise or have the time to run it, but I was looking for additional income and Zak really sold me on the unique idea of wings.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Samad:&nbsp;There aren’t a lot of franchises within the wing segment here or anywhere. There are plenty of chicken franchises but not a lot focused on wings. We thought it would be something unique that we could bring to the community. That really intrigued me. We decided to jump in from there. I took over the Jamaica, New York store in November 2018.There is a lot of support from the franchisor team. Also, because it is a growing business, Zak allows us to provide feedback and really takes franchise owners into consideration. That helps us grow as a business and makes us feel valued. I love that kind of open communication.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Samad:&nbsp;Growth has been good so far. In February 2019, for our first Super Bowl Sunday, we had no idea what we were getting into. Were there many American football fans in our Muslim community? The answer was resoundingly “yes”! I’d never seen this many people in a store. We went through 45 cases of wings. It was great to watch our team work really hard. The COVID pandemic obviously really did a number on us. Initially, we did great, but the prices of wings tripled during that time. It has become more stable, and we are getting back to where we were prior to the pandemic.&nbsp;The plan was always to open another unit eventually. I briefly operated another unit in Manhattan but had to sell it as it was too difficult for me to commute there everyday. I wanted something closer to me and am currently&nbsp;negotiating locations for additional stores.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Samad: It takes a lot of dedication and a lot of time to grow a restaurant. Plan on spending a lot of time day-to-day within the restaurant.&nbsp;The total investment necessary to begin the operation of an Atomic Wings restaurant is $155,900 to $338,500. The total investment necessary to begin the operation of a multi-unit developer business for a required minimum of three Atomic Wings franchises is $197,900 to $381,000. For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/atomicwings/info">https://1851franchise.com/atomicwings/info</a>.<h3>ABOUT ATOMIC WINGS</h3>Atomic Wings was created in 1989 with a mission to share authentic New York-style Buffalo wings with the world. Now, with dozens of restaurants open in the U.S., Atomic Wings is setting its sights on nationwide growth. In addition to its existing locations in New York and Maryland, Atomic Wings has additional units signed to open in Arizona, Nevada, California, Indiana and Texas. The brand is led by owners and brothers Zack and Ray Omar, and offers customers fresh, never frozen, natural and hormone-free chicken wings hand-tossed in 14 proprietary sauces, a classic menu, a welcoming dining experience and a commitment to quality. For more information about Atomic Wings, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.atomicwings.com/franchising.?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=pakistani-immigrant-expands-atomic-wings-franchise-in-nyc-2723308" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">atomicwings.com/franchising.</a>

Pakistani Immigrant Expands Atomic Wings Franchise in NYC

1851 Franchise

Trading a career in the corporate world for the bustling franchise industry, Fahad Samad shares his journey with Atomic Wings and his vision for the future.

pakistani-immigrant-expands-atomic-wings-franchise-in-nyc

Right at Home

Design with photo of Shalom Plotkin and Right at Home logo

From Military Chaplain to Home Care Entrepreneur: Rabbi Shalom Plotkin's Journey With Right at Home

rabbi-shalom-plotkin-right-at-home-franchise-journey

TruBlue Home Service Ally

TruBlue Bridges Health Care and Home: A New Standard in Aging-in-Place Support

trublue-bridges-health-care-and-home-a-new-standard-in-aging-in-place-support

Paris Baguette Canada

Photo of Paris Baguette iced coffee beverage and pastry

Paris Baguette Ranked No. 73 on Entrepreneur’s Fastest Growing Franchises List for 2025

paris-baguette-fastest-growing-franchise-2025

Biscuit Belly Franchising

Investing in the Morning Rush: The Financial Benefits of a Biscuit Belly Franchise

biscuit-belly-franchise-financial-benefits-2025

Children's Lighthouse

Legal Expertise Meets Heart: How Stephanie Russ Builds Franchisee Confidence at Children’s Lighthouse

legal-expertise-meets-heart-how-stephanie-russ-builds-franchisee-confidence-at-childrens-lighthouse

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Subway Pushes Global Growth Despite U.S. Closures 

subway-pushes-global-growth-despite-us-closures

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands - 1851 Franchise

DoorDash Expansion Could Reshape Delivery and Operations for Franchise Brands

doordash-acquistions-deliveroo-sevenrooms

Crumbl Franchise Investment - TSG Consumer Partners -  1851 Franchise

TSG Consumer Partners Takes Minority Stake in Crumbl, Signaling Franchise Growth Potential

crumbl-franchise-investment-tsg-consumer

Yum Brands Reports Strong Q1 Results with Big Boost from Taco Bell

yum-brands-reports-strong-q1-results-with-big-boost-from-taco-bell

QSR: McDonald’s Gains Momentum With Chicken Innovation, Value Deals and Franchisee Support

mcdonalds-franchise-recovery-chicken-strategy-value-deals-2025

Franchisee spotlight image with Randy and Sandy Craft, Children's Lighthouse logo on blue background

The Crafts’ Successful Journey from New Parents to Children’s Lighthouse Franchisees

the-crafts-successful-journey-from-new-parents-to-childrens-lighthouse-franchisees

Franchisee spotlight image with photo of Robert Trujillo and UWRG logo on blue background

How Robert Trujillo Expanded His Construction Business With UWRG

how-robert-trujillo-expanded-his-construction-business-with-uwrg

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Amy Lepke and family and Papa Murphy's logo

After 14 Years as a Stay-At-Home Mom, Amy Lepke Returned to Papa Murphy’s — This Time as an Owner

papa-murphys-franchise-amy-lepke

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Steve & Mia Kim & Paris Baguette logo

After Falling in Love with Paris Baguette, This North Carolina Couple Decided To Open One of Their Own

paris-baguette-franchise-charlotte-nc

District Taco Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-district-tacos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Pakistani Immigrant Expands Atomic Wings Franchise in NYC

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS