Today we’d like to introduce you to Chinar And Faraji.
Chinar and Faraji, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
StrikeOut Wingz is so much more than just a business to us. It’s a reflection of our lives—our struggles, our determination, and the hard work we’ve put in to build something meaningful. I’m Chinar Tucker, and along with my husband Faraji, we started this journey in 2018. But our story didn’t begin with wings—it started with the drive to build something that would create a lasting future for our family.
I was born in Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s reign, and in 1988, I survived the Halabja chemical attack, an experience that shaped me, but didn’t define me. After escaping that tragedy, I came to the U.S. and worked hard to make a new life. I spent years working in the restaurant industry, learning everything I could. But deep down, I knew I wasn’t just here to survive—I was here to create something. I wanted to build something that would stand the test of time.
Cooking has always been my passion. I’ve been in the kitchen since I was five years old. I could have opened any kind of restaurant, but I knew it had to be wings. Why? Because no matter where I went, I was always looking for the perfect wings—and I never found them. So, I decided to make them myself. It took two years to perfect my lemon pepper sauce, and some of the other flavors came to me in dreams. Wings made sense—they’re low labor, easy to manage, and it was something I loved to cook.
Faraji, my husband, has been my biggest supporter. After going through so much in his life, he fell in love—not just with me, but with StrikeOut Wingz too. He had a $1.4 million trucking business, but during the heart of the pandemic, he made a bold move: he left it all behind to join the mission. When he started working in the restaurant, he couldn’t believe how much people loved the food—especially when they got samples. Eight months later, we opened our second location together.
In the middle of the pandemic, Faraji made the bold decision to step away from his trucking business and dive into StrikeOut Wingz. It was a leap of faith, but he believed in the concept and in what we were building. He saw the joy on our customers’ faces when they tried our wings, and he knew this was the right path forward. A little over eight months later, we opened our second location.
In 2023, we launched our franchise company, LemonPepper Island, with the vision of growing our brand and sharing our success with others. We now have three StrikeOut Wingz locations, and we’re working hard on expanding even further.
What we’ve built is more than just a business—it’s our legacy. We wanted to create something for our children, something they could inherit and grow without having to face the struggles we did. We’re laying the foundation for generational wealth, and this is only the beginning.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road, but I wouldn’t change it for the world, and I wouldn’t trade this journey for any other job—even if they were paying me more. The challenges have been tough, but they’ve been part of what makes this journey so meaningful.
The pandemic, for one, was a huge challenge. Keeping employees was almost impossible—nobody wanted to work, and we struggled to keep the team together. It was a stressful time, but it was also a time of growth. As difficult as it was, it forced us to be creative, and we learned to adapt and push through.
One of the biggest hurdles we faced was trying to secure funding. No bank would invest in StrikeOut Wingz the way we wanted, which made growing the business more challenging than we expected. But instead of letting that stop us, we started to realize that maybe we didn’t need those banks. We didn’t need to go into debt to build what we wanted. We made a decision to invest in each other, becoming our own investors. It’s a load off knowing we’re not tied to banks and their loans. Moving a little slower and using our own resources means we make fewer mistakes and can build at our own pace, without the pressure of owing anyone.
The road hasn’t been easy, but it’s been real. Every struggle has been a lesson, and through it all, we’ve stayed focused on our goal: building a legacy for our children and creating something that will last. We’ve learned that it’s okay to move at our own pace, and sometimes, that’s the best way to avoid mistakes and grow with stability.
We’ve been impressed with StrikeOut Wingz , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At StrikeOut Wingz, we specialize in flavorful, high-quality wings and homemade sauces that you won’t find anywhere else. Our signature lemon pepper sauce took me two years to perfect, and our unique flavors keep customers coming back. What sets us apart is our focus on authenticity, quality, and creating a welcoming experience for everyone who walks through our doors.
We pride ourselves on building real connections with our customers and offering exceptional food at a great price. Our expansion into franchising with LemonPepper Island allows us to share our passion with even more people. When you choose StrikeOut Wingz, you’re choosing a brand that’s built on family, community, and love for food.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
We truly believe we couldn’t have done this without the Creator. Honestly, if He hadn’t come to us in our dreams and guided us, we wouldn’t be here doing this. It’s been a spiritual journey, and we give all our success to Him.
Our brothers have been a huge part of this journey. One has been essential in building our StrikeOut Sewar, and the other, Jelani, not only runs his own place on Bankhead but also serves as a back-of-the-house trainer for us. Their support, work ethic, and belief in the business have been integral in our success.
Our daughter has been with us since 2018, starting at just 13 years old. She’s now a front-of-house trainer, making sauces for our Atlanta locations, and managing shifts at our downtown spot. Watching her grow with the business has been one of our proudest moments.
Our sisters, Jiyars and Hinar, have also played major roles. One is always cheering us on, and the other is the genius behind our homemade sauces. They’ve been pillars of support, and their contributions are at the heart of what makes StrikeOut Wingz special.
We can’t forget our in-laws, who have been our biggest supporters right alongside our immediate family. They’ve been there for us every step of the way, offering both emotional and practical support, and their belief in our vision has made all the difference.
And of course, we owe so much to our loyal customers, who continue to spread the word and support us. Their love and advocacy have been crucial to our growth.
Without all of these amazing people, StrikeOut Wingz wouldn’t be what it is today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.strikeoutwingz.com
- Instagram: strikeoutwingz
- Facebook: StrikeOut Wingz
Image Credits
Chinar & Faraji Tucker
StrikeOut Wingz Team
Jelani Tucker
Marrari
