On August 2, 1990, David and Leticia Boyd’s mission to bring the “Buffalo wing” to Memphis came into fruition as the first D’Bo’s Daiquiris, Wings & Seafood opened as a food truck.
Almost 32 years and thousands of customers later, D’Bo’s has grown into multiple locations around Memphis, with franchise locations in Michigan and others on the horizon.
It’s the next step in the growth and expansion of D’Bo’s, says Julian Boyd. Boyd is the son of David and Leticia and is proudly carrying the torch that his parents laid of being responsible for making Memphis the “Hot Wing Capital of the World.”
“It’s been a fantastic ride, and we are so grateful for everything that has taken place,” Boyd says.
“We’re known for the blues, we’re known for the barbecue. However, because of D’Bo’s, Memphis is known for its wings. There were no wing places in Memphis like this 32 years ago, but to be able to set the standard at the way it’s set to now, it’s a great thing to be able to see. We’re bringing that Memphis to your mouth. That’s the way that we’re looking to do this thing. Memphis to your mouth, and Memphis to your market.”
It’s no secret that hot wings are a staple of Memphis culinary culture. That fact is something that many Memphians are proud to boast about, especially when visiting new cities. However, it seems that no other city can produce a hot wing the way the Bluff City does.
“We opened one in Detroit in February. That one up there is doing fantastic,” Boyd says. “It’s such an exciting opportunity because we’re breaking into new markets. It’s all about the strong foundation that was set by David and Leticia Boyd.”
Boyd recalls memories from his formative years when he and his late brother David Boyd II would be at the first brick-and-mortar location on Kirby Parkway and Knight Arnold, standing on crates and operating the cash register.
New owners Ashlei and Ross Williams pose at D’Bo’s Riverdale’s reopening.
“That was fun for us back in the day. So now it’s so much fun to be invested in the business in this way and focusing on the growth and development through franchising and finding franchise partners,” he says. “If we’re going to do this franchising thing the right way, we have to be hands-on and supportive to ensure the success of every single location because at the end of the day, that’s our family name up on that building.”
There are currently two locations that sport the Boyd moniker in Memphis, with one of the original locations being newly franchised. D’Bo’s on Riverdale is now owned and operated by a sister-and-brother duo, Ashlei and Ross Williams.
The Williams siblings were born and raised in Memphis, and are eager to bring their entrepreneurial spirit and family legacy of hospitality to the D’Bo’s franchise.
“About two years ago in the pandemic, my sister and I knew we were both at an area where we wanted to pivot and explore new opportunities,” Ross says.
Ashlei explains that one of the positives of the pandemic was that many of her creative services were booming, and she wanted to be smart with her revenue. This created the perfect opportunity for Ross to “circle back and pitch himself again,” which was around the time that D’Bo’s started franchising.
“The company is positioned now to grow … and for Ashlei and I as young entrepreneurs, not only did I want to invest in a brand that was exciting and that we liked, but also one that is positioned for growth,” Ross explains.
“It’s also about being Black millennial entrepreneurs. It’s important for us to tell the story of legacy. Tell the story of what legacy can look like. I think we’re personally interested in expanding the footprint of Black businesses in general, and franchising is a great way to do that and bring more Black owners in,” Ashlei adds.
Ashlei also says it’s been a joy to work with Julian as another Black millennial.
“You can pass something down and the next generation can take it over and improve it and make it better. We’re just excited to be on the journey here for this legacy location and what it means to Memphis.”