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he owner of Valerie’s Wings & Things was glad to share her story with Mamarazzi Entertainment Magazine when asked about the recent closing of her doors and the new business in its place at 3928 E. 13th St. N. She feels the community deserves to know. Valerie Mitchell grew up as the 2nd of six children—three sisters and two brothers. She and her sisters would use a step-stool to open a cabinet near the kitchen stove. Posted inside was a cornbread recipe with instructions by Mitchell’s mother. Mitchell always put her own twist on the recipes. “I would add a little more than what she told us to put in it,” Mitchell admits. “I wanted to take it and make it my own.” During the 90’s Mitchell dabbled in owning restaurants in several Wichita locations. She says she would open 2 Wichita’s ONLY Hip Hop & Urban Entertainment Magazine
When Mitchell opened Valerie’s Wings & Things she made sure to incorporate her toothy grin into the Wichita restaurant’s logo. Picture courtesy of Valerie Mitchell by way of Eagle reporter Denise Neil
one, struggle, and then close. Then she’d open another one and it would meet the same fate. She would return to a regular 9-5 job and sell dinners on the side. “Restaurant business is very hard,” Mitchell says. “I was never really good at managing a business. I just did what I could to
keep the doors open and give the people what they wanted and then it would close.” With the support of her nephew, former NFL player Kamerion Wimbley, she launched Wings & Things restaurant in 2013. Mitchell says that while her nephew was in the league, she came up with
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the idea to call it Wings & Things and created a menu that included chicken, fish and burgers. His income helped to fund the dream and his business sense shaped how the restaurant operated from top to bottom.
Wings & Things grew to have two locations and became a community favorite thanks to Mitchell’s signature seasoning and wing sauce—one called “sweet heat.” However, after not seeing eye-to -eye on salary compensation, Mitchell abruptly ended partnership with her nephew. She opened the doors to Valerie’s Wings & Things in March 2016. “I was kind of rebelling against my nephew,” Mitchell says. “I knew he had the business sense, but I didn’t like how I was being treated because I felt it was my idea.”
Valerie’s Wings & Things emerged after Mitchell’s departure from the original Wings & Things restaurant. Picture courtesy of Valerie Mitchell
Her location still offered many of the same menu items as the original restaurant. Valerie’s Wings & Things was awarded the Wingapalooza “Lord of the Wings” 1st place trophy in 2016 and again in 2017. It’s a People’s Choice Award voted by those in attendance. Mitchell was also recognized by Sam’s Club as
“Member of the Month” and “Member of the Year.” She recalls going there at 6 a.m. most days to shop for the restaurant. Valerie’s Wings & Things would sometimes remain open for extended hours to serve club-goers in a space next door to her restaurant. Mitchell would also help Continued on NEXT page
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many in the community with gifts, Christmas drives, and even food for the repass gatherings of their loved ones.
“Everyone who would reach out to me, I’d make about 200 to 300 wings and just give them away,” says Mitchell. By spring of 2018, the support Mitchell gave to the community, she needed back.
to help serve on that day. They raised roughly $1,800. Mitchell says the money that came in was used to pay lawyer fees. To date, there is still an outstanding tax bill.
says reflecting on what went wrong. “But pride got in the way.”
“I take blame because I should’ve made sure that if I didn’t know how to do the business side of things, that I found someone who did,” Mitchell
And by “him” she’s referring to her nephew—whom she recalls changing his diapers before he became (in her
“I was trying to prove him wrong,” adds Mitchell.
Mitchell owed the state for taxes. Lifetime friend to Mitchell, Alicia Gamble, set up a Go Fund Me account to help. More than five hundred dollars came in through the online fundraiser. Wichita-based caterer Jodee Bradley reached out with the idea to sell dinners in northeast Wichita. Word was spread over Facebook and through word-ofmouth. Business owner Dr. Twanda Hamilton of Tangles Unlimited Salon was just one of many who rolled up her sleeves
Valerie says a friend set up a Go Fund Me account as a last-ditch effort to help save her restaurant.
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words), “a professional man; the big man.” Mitchell was still grieving the loss of her restaurant at the time of her oldest sister Danna’s passing. She experienced a deep depression. “I feel like I disappointed the community,” says Mitchell. “I know that I disappointed myself.” Mitchell says she knows how famed fashion designer Kate Spade must’ve felt before she committed suicide in June 2018. “She was really bothered because she was the creative person for her brand, ran into some business problems and they took her name and ideas and went on without her,” says Mitchell
explaining her take on Spade’s passing. “I experienced the same feeling and thought about suicide too.” Mitchell says what keeps her here is the outpouring love from the community, her daughter, two sons and grandchildren.
“I have one daughter and she has five children,” says Mitchell. “And the way they run to me when I pull up in the driveway—I can’t have them standing around me in a casket.” Her restaurant’s space was turned over to a relative of Mitchell who registered a new business of “Pam’s Wings with Things.” The restaurant vows to have the same sauce and seasoning of Valerie’s Wings & Things.
These little football players stopped in for a taste of Val’s Buffalo wings. Picture courtesy of Valerie Mitchell
Prior to Mitchell’s restaurant closing, her cousin and her cousin’s boyfriend showed interest in opening a 2nd location for Valerie’s Wings & Things. Amid the surrender of the space, a decision was made for Valerie to assist them in taking over her space instead. Mitchell entrusts them with her recipe and even
shared a cautionary tale with them in hopes they won’t fall to her same mistakes. “I’ve told them over and over to pay attention to your taxes and if you don’t know how to, find someone who will,” says Mitchell. “It’s one thing to work that kitchen but it’s another thing to sit Continued on Page 7
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Saturday, July 14 9:00 AM- 3:00 PM Wichita State University Rhatigan Student Center 1845 Fairmount Wichita, Kansas 67260 6 Wichita’s ONLY Hip Hop & Urban Entertainment Magazine
The 4th Annual Create Campaign Forum puts urban entrepreneurs in the know on how to start and grow businesses. This FREE event features workshops, speakers, panels, networking and information resource booths in a fast -paced, interactive and much-anticipated event that is one-of-its-kind in Wichita. This event is primarily designed for adults. Workshops are planned for Middle and High schoolers. Interpreters will be available for those with Spanishlanguage needs. You may register on Eventbrite. For more information visit: www.createcampaignks.com
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Valerie enjoyed meeting new customers at events like Wichita’s Annual Riverfest in downtown Wichita. Picture courtesy of Valerie Mitchell
down and do the paperwork that comes with having a business.” She feels her strengths are in the kitchen and in giving good customer service. When asked if she’d ever open a restaurant of her own again, Mitchell doesn’t want to
be counted out! She plans to come back stronger and wiser, with a team of know-hows to support the business side of things. But for now, she will cater food for those who miss her special touch. She finds comfort in the kind words sent her way
by those in the community.
Valerie was named “Customer of the Month” and also “Customer of the Year” at Sam’s Club.
As for where she stands with her onetime business partner, she says, “That’s my nephew. Even if I feel that business should’ve been handled differently there will never be a time that me and him
are standing in front of a judge.” “I love him,” says Mitchell. Attempts to reach Wimbley during the production of this issue were unsuccessful. —Interview by Ti’Juana Hardwell for Mamarazzi Entertainment Magazine
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Valerie’s Wings & Things was voted People’s Choice for her wings in 2016 and 2017. Picture courtesy of Valerie Mitchell
… but pride got in the way.” For more articles from Mamarazzi Entertainment Magazine go to Issuu.com/MamarazziEnt and click FOLLOW! Wichita’s ONLY Hip Hop & Urban Entertainment Magazine