Jan. 9, 2025

Atomic Wings is headed to the west side.

A new location is under design in the Roosevelt Marketplace retail center at 3217 S. Sertoma Ave. It most recently was Samurai Tasteas Sushi Steakhouse.

The location will be franchised by Brian Rieger, who most recently owned the food truck Pa & Sons, which he opened with his sons in 2022.

He reached out to Atomic Wings franchisees and area representatives Eric and Stefanie Engelstad when they announced they were bringing the concept to Sioux Falls last year.

The Engelstads opened a location in July at 69th Street and Cliff Avenue but are focused on helping others franchise, Eric Engelstad said.

With Rieger, “he’s been in the community, he’s a hard worker, he has experience running the food truck, and he’s going to be in his restaurants,” Engelstad said. “He’s going to be there to take care of the customers, and he wants to grow. We think it’s going to be a great location.”

For Rieger, who initially drove to Minnesota to try Atomic Wings, the limited menu and quality product were selling points.

“You can concentrate on a few things and do it really well,” he said. “I tried the food and liked it and said, ‘Hey, let’s do this.'”

He and his family plan to sell their food truck this spring, and he’s retired from his career in the utility industry to focus on Atomic Wings.

“I think that area (on the west side) is just ripe for something new,” Rieger said. “It puts another option out there.”

Chicken at Atomic Wings is fresh, never frozen, and wings are available in buffalo, grilled and boneless varieties, with more than 20 sauces and rubs. The menu also includes chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, flatbreads and sides, including a variety of fries, fried pickles, mozzarella sticks, mac-and-cheese, jalapeno poppers and coleslaw. Beer also will be available.

Sioux Falls has responded positively to the first location, Engelstad added.

“We’re getting rave reviews,” he said. “I hear it every single day I’m in it.”

The hope is to open on the west side in March or April. Hiring will start about a month before.