Get into the wing of things

BURBANK — It pays in hot wings to be steady customers of AMC Theatre, one couple learned Monday morning.

Matthew Kelsey, 34, of Santa Clarita, and his girlfriend Staci Miyagishima, 24, of North Hills, were first in line Sunday and camped out overnight in front of the new Buffalo Wild Wings location on the AMC Walkway in Downtown Burbank.

The restaurant and sports bar, which was established in Ohio, is known for its Buffalo, N.Y.,-style chicken wings and 14 sauces ranging from mild, sweet, to “Blazin.’”

In announcing its grand opening for Burbank, company representatives said the first 100 people in line at 8 a.m. would receive free hot wings for a year.

Kelsey and Miyagishima come to the AMC Theatre every week and saw the sign about the promotion. He gave up a day of work for it. He’s a freelance production assistant and actor.

They came by at midnight Saturday to see if the line had started to form yet.

“No one was here, so we thought it was safe to come back on Sunday,” Miyagishima said.

They came back at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Kelsey said.

“We beat the managers,” he added. “They gave us two T-shirts. They were really surprised we were here at midnight on Saturday.”

To pass the time, they said they played cards, watched videos on an iPod, and Miyagishima read her book on traveling to Europe. She set up a fold-out hammock and snuggled under five blankets to stay warm. Kelsey brought a folding chair, but took a few naps in the car.

At 8 a.m. they were presented a coupon book that allows them six free hot wings once a week for a year, said Thomas Law, general manager

“We also were given a $25 store credit toward any menu purchased items,” Kelsey said, adding that they plan to come back Tuesday for a screening at the AMC Theatre.

Kelsey is from Tennessee, where he first tasted the wings.

“I’ve been to Buffalo Wild Wings a lot of times,” he said. “I like the atmosphere. I love the wings and enjoy playing the trivia games.”

Behind them in line were Aaron Sladek, 19, of Northridge, and Sarah Emerson, 16, of Burbank.

Sarah’s dad told her about the promotion after he read about it on the Internet.

“My dad told me yesterday morning after breakfast, and we came at 3:30 in the afternoon,” she said.

Law and his wife, Jodi, brought out a platter of wings for those in line, and Sladek and Sarah both said they liked the medium sauce.

“Blazin’ was too hot,” they said in unison.

The turnout was so great for the promotion, all 250 people in line received free wings for a year, Thomas Law said.

“We wanted to do the right thing because all these people stayed here all night,” he said.

The showing highlighted the demand for a West Coast franchise that, until now, had gone unmet, said Tom Cook, owner of the Burbank franchise.

“Everybody loves beer, wings and sports,” he said. “These folks are excited for us to be here. Buffalo Wild Wings has been around for 25 years, but not on the West Coast,” he said.

There are more than 600 restaurants in 40 states, but most are east of the Mississippi.