25 Years of Partnership: How Pluckers Wing Bar and Fourth Grew Together to Achieve Success

Challenge

Pluckers Wing Bar has always stood out by doing things differently. From their early days—like showing up to a chili cook-off with wings instead of chili and selling out—to today, where you might catch a live DJ in the restaurant, founders Dave Paul and Mark Greenberg have consistently aimed to make the experience bigger and better. 

In those early years, Dave and Mark faced the typical challenges of new restaurateurs. Handwritten orders, training protocols, and hands-on management were part of their day-to-day. “We spent 16 to 18 hours a day in the kitchen for three years,” Dave recalled. 

Through trial and error, they developed training manuals and streamlined operations, paving the way for new locations. But with every new opening, they encountered new challenges in managing labor costs, maintaining high service quality, and preserving their unique culture. 

Solution

As Pluckers expanded, they quickly recognized the need for sophisticated tools to help manage labor and streamline scheduling. Fourth’s HotSchedules was one of the first software solutions Pluckers adopted, marking the beginning of a partnership focused on innovation that now spans a quarter of a century.  

“When HotSchedules first launched, we were eager to try it,” Dave said. “We’ve always been an early adopter of technology because we want to be on the cutting edge.” Fourth’s scheduling and labor optimization tools have allowed Pluckers to standardize labor practices across locations, ensuring each restaurant has the right staffing levels for peak service hours. This has been critical in scaling operations while maintaining consistency. 

“We believe that technology is the next step in restaurants’ evolution to critically analyze a business so you can make the best possible decisions for your guests and employees.”

-Dave Paul, Founder

Although Pluckers has used Fourth for over 25 years, their commitment to innovation continues to push them to try new things. In the last two years, Pluckers and Fourth partnered on implementing Fourth’s labor optimization feature, which has had a transformative impact on their profitability. By accurately forecasting labor needs based on real-time data, the feature helps prevent understaffing during peak hours and reduces labor costs during slower periods. 

Dave highlighted that Fourth’s tools, like HotSchedules, integrate seamlessly with POS systems like Toast. Dave noted that today, a POS system that integrates smoothly with solutions is crucial, as it simplifies operational workflows and ensures compatibility across essential restaurant management platforms. 

Result

A key part of Pluckers’ success lies in its strong internal culture. Many of Pluckers’ department heads have been with the company for over 20 years, reflecting the brand’s ability to foster long-term loyalty among staff. 

Dave attributes their high retention rates and strong workplace culture to a “team sports mentality” that Pluckers instills in every employee.  

Here are a few ways Pluckers continues to win: 

• Operational Efficiency: Labor optimization through Fourth’s tools has saved Pluckers’ managers an estimated 4 hours per week on scheduling tasks. Over 32 locations means 120+ hours saved weekly. 

• Profit Impact: The labor optimization feature has not only reduced unnecessary labor costs but also helped increase profitability in specific locations by ensuring optimal staffing during peak hours, estimating a 10-15% increase in profitability. 

Fourth is grateful to be one of the many players on Pluckers team, supporting their culture by enabling Pluckers to manage labor in a way that not only optimizes performance but also aligns with their commitment to employee wellbeing.