Buffalo Wild Wings facts for kids
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Logo since 2018
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Formerly
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Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck (1982–1998) |
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Restaurant Franchising |
| Founded | 1982 in Columbus, Ohio, U.S. as Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck |
| Founders | Jim Disbrow Scott Lowery |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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Number of locations
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1,300+ (2024) |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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| Products | Chicken Wings, Burgers, Beer, Sides |
| Parent | Inspire Brands (2018–present) |
Buffalo Wild Wings is a popular American restaurant. It is known for its delicious chicken wings. People also call it BW3 or BDubs or BWW. It is a casual dining spot and a sports bar. This means it's a relaxed place to eat and watch sports.
As of March 2025, there were over 1,300 locations. You can find them in all 50 U.S. states. The company's main office is in Atlanta, Georgia. It is part of a bigger company called Inspire Brands.
Contents
The Story of Buffalo Wild Wings
How It All Started
Buffalo Wild Wings began in 1982. It was first called Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck. Two friends, Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery, started it. Jim was judging an ice skating competition. After the event, they wanted to find Buffalo-style chicken wings. They couldn't find any in Kent, Ohio. So, they decided to open their own restaurant! They chose a spot near Ohio State University.
The "Weck" in the original name refers to "beef on weck." This is a special sandwich. It was one of the first items served at their restaurant.
Growing the Business
Six months later, Mark Lutz joined them as a partner. Over the next ten years, they opened six more restaurants. These were in Ohio, Indiana, and Colorado. In 1992, they started letting other people open restaurants. This is called franchising. It helped the company grow even faster.
The company's main office moved to Cincinnati in 1992. By 1993, they had added eight more locations. Most of these were still in Ohio.
New Leadership and Changes
In 1994, Sally Smith joined the company. She helped organize the company's money. She became the president and CEO in 1996. Jim Disbrow became the chairman of the board.
The company started to change its style. They wanted to be more than just a college sports bar. They designed new restaurants. These had separate areas for the bar and dining. This made them feel more like a casual dining spot.
In 1998, the company decided to use one name. They chose "Buffalo Wild Wings" for all their restaurants. This made it easier for customers to recognize them.
Reaching Milestones
The 100th Buffalo Wild Wings opened in 1999. It was in Apple Valley, Minnesota. By the end of 2000, there were 140 locations. They were in 19 different states. They even opened a restaurant in Buffalo, New York. This city is famous for Buffalo wings!
Jim Disbrow, one of the founders, passed away in 2002. But the company kept growing. By late 2003, there were 211 locations. They were spread across 27 states. In November 2003, Buffalo Wild Wings started trading on NASDAQ. This meant people could buy shares of the company.
Expanding and Partnering
In 2010, Buffalo Wild Wings expanded into Canada. They also opened a restaurant in Dubai in 2015. However, by June 2023, all Canadian locations had closed.
In 2018, a company called Inspire Brands bought Buffalo Wild Wings. Inspire Brands also owns other restaurants like Arby's. Each restaurant keeps its own name and style. Buffalo Wild Wings also made deals with sports groups. They partnered with the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS). They also sponsored a basketball player, Doug Edert, in 2022.
As of July 2025, Buffalo Wild Wings had earned about $1.035 billion in the past year. This shows it is still a very big company.
What You'll Find at Buffalo Wild Wings
Food and Drinks
Buffalo Wild Wings is famous for its Buffalo-style chicken wings. They offer many different sauces. You can also find other chicken items like tenders and legs. They serve side dishes, appetizers, and desserts too. Sometimes, they even have fun challenges. For example, you might try to eat ten wings very quickly!
Restaurant Style
The restaurants have an open design. They usually have a big bar area. There are lots of televisions and screens. This makes it a great place to watch sports games. Some newer restaurants are designed to feel like you are in a sports stadium. This adds to the fun atmosphere.
Gallery
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Buffalo Wild Wings location in Athens, Ohio
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The exterior of a Buffalo Wild Wings location in Carolina Forest, South Carolina
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A Buffalo Wild Wings in Carson, California
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A Buffalo Wild Wings in Gillette, Wyoming
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Buffalo Wild Wings sports bar located in New Caney, Texas
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Interior of a Buffalo Wild Wings sports bar in Arden, North Carolina
See also
- List of chicken restaurants
