12/24/2025
Under the Radar, Built to Last: The Story of WingIT & SipIT
For more than a decade, while trends came and went and restaurant concepts flamed out just as fast as they popped up, two San Antonio entrepreneurs were quietly building something real.
Long before the buzzwords, long before franchising became fashionable, Daryl “Bossman Daryl” Smith and Bernardo Baxter were in the trenches—learning the business from the ground up, betting on themselves, and turning grit into growth.
The journey began in 2014 with a simple but bold idea: create a wing concept that actually delivered on flavor, consistency, and community. That idea became WingIT.
Born from food truck roots and sharpened through long nights, tight budgets, and hands-on leadership, WingIT wasn’t built in a boardroom—it was built in parking lots, commissary kitchens, and small neighborhood storefronts. Daryl brought the operational grind and marketing vision. Bernardo brought financial discipline and strategic ex*****on. Different strengths. Same mission.
Together, they built a brand that didn’t just sell wings—it built loyalty.
While others chased shortcuts, WingIT focused on fundamentals: quality food, repeat customers, and systems that worked even when the owners weren’t in the building. That discipline paid off. What started as a single concept grew into multiple locations, a recognizable brand, and a reputation for doing things the right way.
Then came 2020.
When the pandemic hit and the restaurant industry was turned upside down, most operators were fighting to survive. Daryl and Bernardo saw an opportunity to innovate.
Enter SipIT Daiquiris & Margaritas To-Go.
What began as a creative response to changing laws and consumer behavior quickly turned into a breakout success. SipIT didn’t just survive the pandemic—it scaled through it. With a streamlined footprint, strong unit economics, and undeniable demand, SipIT expanded rapidly, growing into a multi-location brand with stadium placements, drive-thru concepts, and franchising potential.
Today, WingIT and SipIT operate as sister brands, proving that smart systems, disciplined growth, and authentic leadership still win in this industry.
No gimmicks.
No overnight success myths.
Just two founders who stayed consistent, stayed coachable, and stayed in the game.
From wings to daiquiris, from food trucks to storefronts, from under-the-radar to undeniable—this is what long-term vision looks like.
And the story is still being written.
