#MUSEOFRI - Music & Community Hour (May 2026) ft/ West Wing's own Will West
Podcast Summary
In this episode of the #MUSEOFRI - Music & Community Hour, hosts J’Juan and NYCEHITZ welcome Will West, the founder and CEO of West Wing. The discussion traces Will’s journey from an eight-year-old in South Providence discovering the value of hard work to becoming a “serial entrepreneur” who has launched various businesses, including a barbershop and car wash on Potters Avenue.
Will shares the persistence required to build a brand, from operating a successful food trailer on Broad Street to becoming a top vendor at major venues like the Xfinity Center. The episode emphasizes the value of community roots and the resilience needed to overcome business challenges, such as the sudden loss of a lease. Ultimately, Will discusses his strategic decision to focus on West Wing, highlighting his commitment to providing high-quality food and a great atmosphere at his new Pawtucket location.
[Intro Music - Hip Hop Beat]
NYCEHITZ: You know what we came to do!
J’Juan: What up, you know what it is! Nice Hits is in the building!
[Song Plays: Upbeat R&B/Hip-Hop track with lyrics about confidence and success]
NYCEHITZ: Muse of RI, Music and Community Hour! We here, we here!
[Song continues]
NYCEHITZ: Yes sir, WBRU 360, 101.1 FM. After a long break, we are back. J’Juan, what’s good?
J’Juan: What’s up everybody! Yeah, after a long—had to dig out of all that snow. I’m still digging out of that snow, that’s why we had that long break.
NYCEHITZ: Well, this is the Muse of RI Music and Community Hour.
J’Juan: Look at him, he still remembers the name after all that time!
NYCEHITZ: Yeah, yeah, you know. Everything good with you?
J’Juan: Man, everything’s good, man. Just planning for the summer, planning for projects that are coming up. I’m excited with our guest and I’m excited to announce what we’re working on.
NYCEHITZ: Bet. Who’s our guest today?
J’Juan: So our guest today, I’m going to introduce him as Ill Will, and he’s the owner of West Wings—the best wings in Rhode Island. Just like I say we got the King of R&B over here, but we got the King of Wings in here and Nice is always starting trouble, that’s just me. But nah, Ill Will is in the building. I wanted to talk to him about how we met and just how he got to become such a serial entrepreneur and now just landed on a real great product, real great business, and he opened up the new location. So we’re going to talk about that location and his journey. Introduce yourself.
Will West: What’s up everybody, this is Will, Will West. I am the owner, founder, and CEO of the world-famous West Wing, 250 Main Street, Pawtucket, Rhode Island. You know, it’s been a journey to say the least just to get to the opening, but we’re here and we got great food and great atmosphere and some real good things happening in that area.
J’Juan: Dope, dope. But before you got the brick and mortar, let everybody know the famous trailer that’s everywhere, the famous truck everywhere over there on Broad Street after hours and... what do they call it now?
Will West: Xfinity. Yeah, I’m old, I call it Tweeter. It was even something before that too—Great Woods. We were the top vendor for that season. We had lines around the corner, 20,000 people. Willie Nelson show, selling out. We sold out Willie Nelson in like two hours before Willie Nelson even got on, we were sold out of chicken.
NYCEHITZ: So yeah, we want to definitely get to the business itself, but let’s talk about your early beginnings in entrepreneurship. Like the first business that you tried.
Will West: Whoof. Well, I want to give a lot of credit to my neighborhood, man, because that gave me my entrepreneurial spirit. When I was young, I grew up in South Side, South Providence. I used to see people that had drug addictions in my neighborhood, and there was a couple dudes that used to always rummage through the garbage. Back in the day, they didn’t have the bin for recycling, they just had the little tub. I just wanted to know why they were doing it. I ended up talking to this dude—I forget his name, but big shout out to him—and I was like, “Yo man, why you always in the garbage?” He’s like, “Young blood, I’m gonna get me some money.” He was taking cans up to the recycling thing. He was like, “Come with me.” I had to carry the bag. I was eight years old at the time. I got twenty dollars for that. My own money at age eight. It just sparked something in me. Then, fast forward, 2011, I opened my first official business, which was a barbershop, beauty salon, and car wash on Potters Avenue.
J’Juan: Fact.
Will West: A lot of people used to ride by that building for years and not even blink at it. I saw the doors open one day and a dude was washing a car in there. I asked if he owned the building; he gave me the owner’s number. I told the owner I’m gonna turn this into a car wash/beauty salon and the owner laughed at me. He was like, “Yeah, give me the money.” Two months later we were open. That building has been a prominent business ever since. It turned into a detailing shop, a car lot. Prior to that, for 20 years, it was nothing. It’s a little sketchy story, the person after me went over my head to the owner because I only had a one-year lease. He was like, “Your lease is up in two months, you gotta go.” We were at our peak. We used to give out mix CDs with every car wash. If you go to a car wash now and you don’t get a mix CD, they are cheating you!
NYCEHITZ: (Laughs)
Will West: I quickly found a spot on Cranston Street and resumed business. Those were all lessons I had to learn along the way.
NYCEHITZ: Great times at them spots. Well, I’m going to pause you there, we’re going to a music break and come back and continue that journey.
[Music Break plays]
NYCEHITZ: Yes sir, we are back. J’Juan in the building. We’re going to continue Will’s journey, talk about where he’s at now. I wanted to mention this summer, he supported me when I did the Michael S. Van Leesten Bridge sunset party. He stayed there until he sold out.
Will West: I’m not leaving!
J’Juan: (Laughs) He sold the chicken he brought and the chicken he was supposed to bring! Also, we have the Taste of Juneteenth coming up, so Will’s going to be on board there. I’ve known Will since he was 12 years old.
Will West: 12, 12.
J’Juan: Back when I was getting into artist management. Will was one of three—you, Soupy, and JB. These boys were nice, way before their time.
Will West: Why do you think I just played the Jay-Z song?
J’Juan: (Laughs) But right now the focus is on the business. 250 Main Street, Pawtucket. You guys gotta go down there and try the wings. Shout out to your cook.
Will West: That was my childhood friend, Soupy. He does his thing. He’s seen the journey from the beginning. There were peaks and valleys. I’ve tried it all—flipped houses, drove trucks, sold nutrition stuff, sold vacuum cleaners. I’m a serial entrepreneur. When I stumbled on the West Wing, it was a strategic play. My man Tikari was on Broad Street with a trailer selling hot dogs. When I came home, he was like, “Bro, I got this trailer.” I just looked at it as a customer. I’d go to spots and they’d try to sell me chimis, hot dogs—everything but wings. I’m like, this is a no-brainer. We’re in the hood and chicken wings—this is almost too easy. I took in all the feedback—”wings are too big,” “not enough lemon pepper”—and just kept tinkering with it.
J’Juan: Upcharge for all flats, by the way, right?
Will West: To be real, we don’t even do all flats. My distributor sells me a case with flats and drums. If I sell all flats, I have a ton of drums left. We give an even distribution. We aren’t a big chain; even the mom-and-pop stores, I don’t know how they do it.
J’Juan: Chicken is chicken, I never understood the flats vs drums thing.
Will West: I have people come in and say, “I only want all flats, give me two six-pieces and I’ll take the drumsticks to my girl.” I’m like, how you gonna do her like that? (Laughs). But yeah, May 22nd we’re back on the bridge for the sunset party. Fred the Great, DJ Buck, Mike Rollins. West Wing will be there.
NYCEHITZ: Dope. I appreciate the time, Will. Until next month.
[Outro Music Plays]
Conclusion & Encouragement
Will West’s story is a powerful testament to the “hustle,” illustrating that success is built through persistence, listening to your community, and recovering from every setback. Whether you are launching a startup or refining a craft, your experiences are the foundation of your future achievements.
If you’re looking for a great atmosphere and even better food, support a local visionary who has worked from the ground up.
Visit West Wing today:
📍 250 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI
Great food, great atmosphere, and the best wings in the state. Come taste the journey!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit museofri.substack.com [https://museofri.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]
