CEDAR BLUFF– A food favorite that began as a Buffalo tavern specialty more than six decades ago takes center stage today as restaurants and wing lovers celebrate National Chicken Wing Day.
Jefferson’s Restaurant is marking the occasion with a buy-one-get-one wing promotion at its Cedar Bluff, Gadsden, and Rainbow City locations. To receive the deal, customers must bring a one-dollar bill, decorate it, and leave it for display inside the restaurant.
The promotion includes a free order of traditional or boneless wings with the purchase of an equivalent or larger wing order. The offer is limited to 10 traditional wings or 12 boneless wings.
Only one BOGO offer may be redeemed per customer. In addition, the promotion is available to dine-in customers only during operating hours today.
A Celebration Born in Buffalo
National Chicken Wing Day traces its roots to Buffalo, New York. In 1977, Buffalo Mayor Stan Makowski proclaimed July 29 as Chicken Wing Day in recognition of the city’s growing love for the food, according to a historical account published by The New Yorker.
However, fried chicken wings were not new. Deep-fried wings had long been part of Southern cooking. The Buffalo History Museum has even documented fried chicken wings on a Buffalo hotel menu dating to 1857.
What emerged during the 1960s was the preparation now recognized around the world as the Buffalo wing.
The most familiar origin story centers on the Anchor Bar. In 1964, co-owner Teressa Bellissimo divided chicken wings, deep-fried them, covered them in a peppery hot sauce, and served them with celery and blue cheese dressing.
Accounts differ about why she prepared the first batch. One version says the wings arrived at the restaurant by mistake. Another says Bellissimo prepared them as a late-night snack for her son and other bar patrons.
Buffalo’s wing history also includes John Young, a Black restaurateur who opened Wings & Things in 1966. Young served whole, breaded wings covered in a tomato-based Mambo sauce.
According to the Buffalo History Museum, Young became the first restaurant operator to advertise chicken wings in Buffalo’s telephone directory.
From Bar Snack to National Favorite
Chicken wings grew from a regional specialty into a national menu staple during the 1980s and 1990s.
As consumers increasingly purchased boneless, skinless chicken breasts, wings remained a relatively inexpensive portion of the bird. Restaurants soon recognized that wings were affordable, easy to share, and well suited for watching sports.
Major restaurant chains later helped take wings nationwide. McDonald’s began offering Mighty Wings at some locations in 1990. KFC introduced Hot Wings the following year, while Domino’s added wings in 1994, according to the National Chicken Council’s history of chicken wings.
Today, wings are closely connected to football, parties, and other gatherings. The National Chicken Council projected that Americans would consume approximately 1.48 billion wings during Super Bowl LX in February. That represented an increase of about 10 million wings from the previous year, according to the organization’s 2026 Chicken Wing Report.
Decorating a Dollar at Jefferson’s
The Jefferson’s promotion combines National Chicken Wing Day with one of the restaurant chain’s best-known traditions.
Dollar bills decorated and signed by customers cover the walls inside Jefferson’s locations. According to Jefferson’s account of the tradition, it began when a friend of the restaurant’s founder left a signed dollar as a tip on opening day.
Instead of keeping the bill, the founder placed it on the wall. Customers have continued adding their own decorated dollars ever since.
“Jefferson’s is the best place in town for wings, so every year we know we have to celebrate,” Jefferson’s President Brandon Graham said. “National Chicken Wing Day gives us the perfect excuse to celebrate our favorite food with our community.”
Graham said Jefferson’s hopes customers will get creative, enjoy the tradition, and share the celebration with friends and family.
The restaurant is known for its fresh wings, signature Double-Dipped preparation, sauces, and dry rubs. Its complete selection is available on the Jefferson’s online menu.
Participating Area Locations
The National Chicken Wing Day promotion is available today at the following restaurants:
- Jefferson’s Weiss Lake in Cedar Bluff, 3440 Alabama Highway 9, from 10:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.
- Jefferson’s Gadsden, 529 Broad Street, from 10:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.
- Jefferson’s Rainbow City, 3015 Second Street, with the promotional announcement listing availability from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.
Customers must supply their own one-dollar bill for decoration. The BOGO offer is limited to one redemption per customer and applies to dine-in orders only.
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