Chuck’s Big Time BBQ is one of Ewing’s hotspots for getting wings on Super Bowl Sunday. That scenario played out again this year, when owners Khaled Fouad and Ahmed Ahmed Jr. sold 4,500 pounds of wings—over two tons on chicken wings—for the big game.
The line literally wound through the store and outside past the other businesses in the center in Ewing Plaza on Olden Avenue.
“People started talking and chatting. They had a fun time here,” as they stood on line anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour, Fouad said. “People have fun watching us. People who came in between 10 a.m. and noon were in and out and done.”
But Super Bowl Sunday isn’t Chuck’s only busy time. Even on a snowy Tuesday night in February, business was steady with regular customers stopping by for a few wings.
“I come here all the way from the Southfork development (in West Trenton), near Sandy Drive,” said Willie J. Ward. “I never have any complaints. I wake up happy.”
This was Ward’s second visit to Chuck’s that night. He said that his wife sent him back for more ribs because his son was home and they went through the ones they picked up earlier that night.
Chuck’s Big Time BBQ has large signs over the stove listing prices for between eight and 200 wings. They offer both hot buffalo wings and grilled buffalo wings. They also have “homemade chicken fingers made with real chicken and our own honey mustard or BBQ sauce,” said Fouad. The called the ones sold with buffalo sauce “boneless wings.” They also make their own blue cheese sauce from scratch.
Fouad and Ahmed came to the area from Egypt in the 1980s. Ahmed came first, Fouad followed three years later in 1985. They worked in several restaurants before purchasing Chuck’s Wings in 1997. As for the former owner, “the guy still buys from us. He is a Princeton grad, a very smart guy,” Fouad said.
Fouad and Ahmed added barbecue to the menu and changed the name several year ago.
Four people work in the store from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (11 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays), including Fouad’s two sons Noah and Ibrahim.
“They both attend school and work,” said Fouad. “It is hard work. It is hard to get them here.” The family lives in Hamilton. The sons are earning degrees in liberal arts from Mercer County College.
In addition to wings, Chuck’s Big Time BBQ also offers homemade burgers, wraps, sandwiches, BBQ beef baby back ribs and seafood. For dessert they have premade sweet potato pie, butternut squash pie, bean pie, cookies, chips and other snacks.
Fouad also points out the wide variety of fries they offer, including steak fries, curly fries, coated fries, wedges, spicy fries, and buffalo fries.
Chuck’s may not be as busy every weekend as they are on Super Bowl Sunday, but Fouad points out they are busy year-round. “We don’t stop. March Madness. Boxing matches. Baseball fundraisers. College football. During any sports event we get very busy.”
Fouad said that New Year’s Eve is their second busiest day of the year. People also place large orders for wings on Thanksgiving eve and Christmas Eve.
They also have salads, including tuna shell salad, cole slaw, spicy noodle, cucumber, and black eyed peas and rice.
Ahmed spends most of the year in Egypt, returning to the area for the busy season, which includes Super Bowl Sunday. Fouad’s aching back appreciates the help.
Chuck’s Big Time BBQ, Ewing Plaza, 1980 N. Olden Ave. Phone: (609) 882-2140.
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