SOLEDAD — Wingstop was formally introduced to the community of Soledad last week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the new fast-food restaurant on April 2.
Bill Shaw, developer of the Soledad Mission Center in Soledad, snipped a large green traditional ribbon while using a large pair of jumbo scissors, making the grand opening official.
Several city officials, including Soledad Mayor Anna Velazquez, and Monterey County representatives were also on hand to celebrate the festivities while handing out certificates of recognition.
“On behalf of the city council, thank you once again for your economic prosperity that you’re going to bring to the city of Soledad,” said Velasquez in a speech to the crowd in attendance. “We wish you much luck and success.”
It’s been nearly one month since Wingstop first opened its doors in Soledad, bringing in yet another popular fast-food corporation into town with the recent additions of Panda Express and Dutch Bros. Coffee.
“I just want to acknowledge that the investment you’re making, the opportunity that you’re bringing to our community, is one where our kids are going to have an opportunity to learn a skill,” said Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez during his public speech. “To learn people skills, the soft skills, the things that you don’t typically think about, and blossom.”
Others in attendance included Soledad council members Fernando Cabrera and Eva Bañuelos, and Soledad Chamber of Commerce board members Frank and Maria Corralejo.
“We appreciate the convenience that you are offering to our residents and visitors with accommodating hours, being open until 1 a.m. in the morning,” Frank Corralejo said. “That’s awesome.”
Soledad City Manager Megan Hunter said the city is fortunate for this new investment that she believes is thus far well received by the community.
“We’re already seeing great business coming in, and our residents are really happy to have this resource,” Hunter said. “It’s really important in our community because it’s a growing community.”
Hunter said Soledad hasn’t had the commercial development to support the growing population, forcing residents to shop outside of the area.
“A lot of retail leakage to Salinas,” she said.
Hunter mentioned bringing these big businesses here locally will help bring tax dollars back, which in return helps support the city.
“And we reinvest those [tax dollars] in making the city a better place,” she said.
Wingstop will create 20 jobs in town, and they had more than 100 applicants. Hunter said the city has increased by 700 households in the last decade, bringing in quite a tremendous growth.
The city of Soledad finished a couple of housing projects that brought in roughly 300 units in the past three to five years. In 2025, they had around 80 new housing units with some of them being accessory dwelling units.
Other projects in the pipeline include a proposed annexation to bring about 2,400 new homes, which will be a 30-year phase development.
“We’re definitely growing,” Hunter said.
She noted that Soledad is currently a huge attraction for businesses because in 2010 the city invested to build a tertiary treatment plan. The city overbuilt capacity to help treat the Correctional Training Facility, or commonly known as Soledad State Prison, leaving enough water and wastewater capacity that plagues some of the South County sister cities.
“As the prison population has declined, we actually have a little bit more capacity to serve the development,” Hunter said.
Hunter added, “Soledad is a very popular stop for gas and food, people going to the Pinnacles. And then there’s a lot of travel between San Francisco and Los Angeles, so we’re a favorite stop.”
