Buffalo Wild Wings facts for kids
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A Buffalo Wild Wings in Tifton, Tift County, Georgia
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Formerly
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Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck (1982–1998) |
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Restaurant |
| 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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1,278 (January 2023) |
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Area served
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Canada (formerly) United States Mexico Philippines Saudi Arabia Bahrain United Arab Emirates Panama Oman (formerly) India Vietnam (formerly) |
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Key people
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Paul Brown - CEO |
| Products | Chicken Wings, Shareables, Burgers, Beer |
| Revenue | $3.669 billion (2020) |
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Operating income
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 US$136.70 million (2016) |
| US$94.21 million (2016) |
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| Total assets | US$1.05 billion (2016) |
| Total equity | US$517.90 million (2016) |
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Number of employees
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~44,000 (2016) |
| Parent | Inspire Brands (2018–present) |
Buffalo Wild Wings is a popular American restaurant chain. It is known for its delicious Buffalo wings and many different sauces. It is also a sports bar, which means it's a great place to watch sports.
You can find Buffalo Wild Wings in the United States, Mexico, Philippines, and other countries. As of 2020, there were over 1,200 locations across the U.S. The company is now part of a bigger group 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. The founders were two friends, James Disbrow and Scott Lowery. They met in Kent, Ohio, after Jim had finished judging an ice skating competition.
They wanted to find a restaurant that served Buffalo-style chicken wings. When they couldn't find one, they decided to open their own place. Their first restaurant was near Ohio State University in Columbus. The "Weck" in the original name came from a sandwich called "beef on weck."
Growing the Business
After six months, a third partner, Mark Lutz, joined them. Over the next ten years, they opened six more restaurants. These were in Ohio, Indiana, and Colorado. In 1992, the company started letting other people open their own Buffalo Wild Wings. This is called franchising.
The company's main office moved to Cincinnati in 1992. By 1993, eight more locations had opened. Most of these were in Ohio.
New Leadership and Changes
In 1994, Jim Disbrow hired Sally Smith to help with the company's money. She later became the president and CEO in 1996. Under her leadership, the company grew a lot.
The company decided to change its name to just Buffalo Wild Wings in 1998. This made the name the same everywhere. By 1999, the 100th Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant opened in Minnesota.
Expanding Across the World
By 2000, Buffalo Wild Wings had locations in 19 states. They even opened a restaurant in Buffalo, New York, where Buffalo wings first became famous. The company also started selling its famous sauces in stores.
In 2010, Buffalo Wild Wings expanded into Canada. They also opened restaurants in the United Arab Emirates in 2015. However, in 2023, all Canadian locations closed down.
Becoming Part of Inspire Brands
In 2018, a company called Inspire Brands bought Buffalo Wild Wings. Inspire Brands also owns other restaurant chains like Arby's. Buffalo Wild Wings still keeps its own name and style.
Buffalo Wild Wings has also partnered with big sports events. They teamed up with the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS). They also made a deal with MGM Resorts International for sports betting. During the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament, they sponsored a college basketball star named Doug Edert.
What You'll Find at Buffalo Wild Wings
Food and Flavors
Buffalo Wild Wings is famous for its chicken wings. They offer over a dozen different sauces. You can choose from mild to super spicy. They also have other tasty foods like chicken tenders, burgers, tacos, and salads.
The Blazin' Challenge
One exciting thing at Buffalo Wild Wings is the "Blazin' Wing Challenge." If you're brave, you can try to eat 10 of their super-hot Blazin' Knockout wings. You have to eat them in under five minutes. Winners get special rewards points and their name shown on TV screens.
The Restaurant Experience
The restaurants have an open design. They usually have a big bar area and outdoor seating. You'll see more than 50 televisions and media screens. This makes it a great place to watch all kinds of sports games.
In 2016, new restaurants started to look like a sports stadium. This gives guests the feeling of being right in the action. The staff used to wear jerseys with the number 82. This number showed the year the company started. In 2019, new uniforms with just the company logo were introduced.
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
