Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings is an American casual-dining restaurant and sports-bar brand specializing in chicken wings, sauces, beer, and televised sports. It was established in 1982 in Columbus, Ohio, by figure-skating colleagues and friends Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery after they found it difficult to locate Buffalo-style wings near Kent, Ohio. The original name, Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck, referred both to the restaurant's signature wings and to beef on weck, a regional sandwich that was part of the early menu. The business became known informally as BW3, while later customers widely adopted BDubs and BWW. The early concept was closely associated with college towns and sports-bar culture. Within its first year, Mark Lutz joined Disbrow and Lowery as a partner. During the following decade the group expanded gradually through company and franchise locations in Ohio, Indiana, and Colorado. The brand began formal franchising in 1992 and relocated its headquarters to the Cincinnati area during the same period. Expansion accelerated after Sally Smith joined the business as chief financial officer in the mid-1990s. She helped address financial, lender, and tax problems, and later led a shift toward more disciplined restaurant development and operating procedures. In the mid-1990s, Buffalo Wild Wings broadened its proposition beyond a college-oriented bar. A new freestanding restaurant prototype separated the bar and dining areas, accommodated large groups, and emphasized a more conventional casual-dining format. The company also tightened franchisee qualifications, encouraged successful operators to develop additional units, and increased the role of company-owned restaurants. Smith became president and chief executive officer in 1996, while Disbrow moved into the chairman role. In 1998, following inconsistent use of BW3 and Buffalo Wild Wings in advertising and markets, the system standardized its public name as Buffalo Wild Wings. The company also expanded packaged sauce sales for home consumption. The chain passed 100 locations in 1999 and continued national expansion through a combination of franchised and corporate restaurants. It added new sauces, desserts, takeout options, and retail-oriented products, including a branded potato-chip initiative with Frito-Lay. By the early 2000s, the business had reached hundreds of locations across numerous states and had developed a recognizable restaurant environment built around multiple television screens, sports programming, shareable food, and a broad sauce selection. The company became publicly traded on NASDAQ in November 2003 under the ticker BWLD. Founder Jim Disbrow died in 2002, while Scott Lowery remained involved in franchise construction and development. Buffalo Wild Wings expanded internationally during the 2010s, including entry into Canada and the United Arab Emirates. It also pursued adjacent restaurant investments, taking a minority interest in PizzaRev in 2013 and acquiring a majority stake in Rusty Taco in 2014. The latter investment was later associated with the R Taco name and subsequently became part of the broader Inspire Brands portfolio. International development was uneven: the Canadian operation ultimately closed its remaining restaurants in 2023. In 2017, Arby's Restaurant Group, backed by Roark Capital and with The Wendy's Company as a co-owner at the time, agreed to acquire Buffalo Wild Wings. The transaction closed in February 2018, after which Arby's Restaurant Group was renamed Inspire Brands. Buffalo Wild Wings consequently became one of Inspire's major restaurant brands alongside Arby's and other concepts. The brand remains focused on full-service and sports-oriented casual dining, with dine-in, takeout, delivery, franchise development, sponsorships, and food-and-sauce innovation supporting its business. As of March 2025, published reference material described more than 1,300 locations across all 50 U.S. states, while the parent company operates from the A…

Buffalo Wild Wings began in 1982 when Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery opened a restaurant near Ohio State University in Columbus after searching unsuccessfully for Buffalo-style chicken wings in the Kent, Ohio, area. Their initial concept was called Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck, with the name referencing beef on weck. Mark Lutz joined the venture within six months, and the group gradually added restaurants in Ohio, Indiana, and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Formal franchising began in 1992. The company established headquarters in Cincinnati and expanded its unit base, but its finances and administrative systems were initially poorly organized. Sally Smith joined as a part-time chief financial officer in 1994 and became central to restructuring the business. In the mid-1990s, the chain designed a larger freestanding prototype with distinct bar and dining zones, signaling a move from a primarily college sports-bar concept toward broader casual dining. Smith became president and CEO in 1996, while Disbrow became chairman. The company standardized its public name as Buffalo Wild Wings in 1998 after using several names in different markets. It passed 100 locations in 1999, broadened its menu and sauce program, developed takeout and retail opportunities, and continued adding franchised and company-operated restaurants. By 2001 it was promoting packaged products and had developed a substantial national footprint. Disbrow died in 2002. Buffalo Wild Wings became a publicly traded company on NASDAQ in 2003. During the 2010s, the chain pursued international growth and investments in other restaurant concepts. It announced Canadian expansion in 2010, opened in Dubai in 2015, invested in PizzaRev in 2013, and acquired a majority interest in Rusty Taco in 2014. The Canadian business later contracted and closed its remaining locations in 2023. The company was acquired in 2018 by Arby's Restaurant Group in a transaction backed by Roark Capital. Arby's Restaurant Group subsequently became Inspire Brands, making Buffalo Wild Wings one of the holding company's principal restaurant brands. The modern concept combines wing-focused food with full-service casual dining, sports programming, group occasions, takeout, delivery, sponsorships, and franchise operations. Reference material reported more than 1,300 U.S. locations across all 50 states as of March 2025.

1. 2023Canadian operation closes

   The remaining Canadian restaurants close, ending the brand's Canadian presence.

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2. 2018Acquisition by Inspire Brands

   The acquisition by Arby's Restaurant Group closes, and the parent company is renamed Inspire Brands.

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3. 2015Dubai restaurant opens

   The brand expands into the United Arab Emirates with a restaurant in Dubai.

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4. 2014Majority investment in Rusty Taco

   The company acquires a majority interest in Rusty Taco, later associated with the R Taco name.

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5. 2013Minority investment in PizzaRev

   Buffalo Wild Wings takes a minority stake in the upscale pizza chain PizzaRev.

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6. 2010Canadian expansion announced

   The company announces plans to enter Canada.

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7. 2003Public listing on NASDAQ

   Buffalo Wild Wings begins trading on NASDAQ under the symbol BWLD.

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8. 1999100th location opens

   The chain reaches 100 locations with the opening of a restaurant in Apple Valley, Minnesota.

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9. 1998Brand name is standardized

   The company adopts Buffalo Wild Wings as its system-wide public name rather than alternating among BW3, Buffalo Wild Wings, and related variants.

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10. 1996Sally Smith becomes president and CEO

    Smith is promoted after helping address the company's financial and administrative problems.

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11. 1992Franchising begins

    The company begins formal franchising and establishes headquarters in Cincinnati.

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12. 1982First Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant opens

    Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery open the original Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck restaurant near Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

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Mid-market casual dining built around sports viewing, social gatherings, chicken wings, customizable sauces, beer, and a high-energy restaurant atmosphere.

• Traditional WingsChicken wings1982

  Bone-in chicken wings are the core product of the brand. Customers can typically customize the preparation with a selection of Buffalo-style sauces and other flavor profiles, making the product central to both individual meals and group orders.

• Boneless WingsChicken wings

  Boneless wings are pieces of chicken breast prepared and sauced in the style of wings. They broaden the concept's appeal to customers who prefer a fork-and-knife format while retaining the customizable sauce model associated with the traditional product.

• Wing Sauces and SeasoningsSauces and flavorings1982

  Sauces and dry seasonings are a defining part of Buffalo Wild Wings' proposition. The brand has developed a broad flavor range for wings and other menu items and has also pursued bottled sauce sales for home use.

• Chicken Tenders and Other Chicken ItemsChicken meals

  The menu extends beyond wings with tenders, chicken legs, and related chicken dishes. These options provide less specialized alternatives for diners visiting in groups or seeking a conventional chicken meal.

• Burgers, Sandwiches, and Shareable SidesCasual-dining menu

  Burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, fries, and other sides support the restaurant's broader casual-dining role. These items complement wing orders and help the brand serve mixed groups during sports viewing and social occasions.

• Beer and BeveragesBeverages1982

  Beer and other beverages are important to the sports-bar format, supporting extended dine-in occasions and group consumption. Beverage service helps distinguish the brand from a strictly quick-service chicken restaurant.

• 2022Doug Edert NCAA tournament sponsorship

  United States

  During the NCAA men's basketball tournament, Buffalo Wild Wings sponsored Doug Edert after his unexpected prominence with Saint Peter's.

  Outcome. Used a high-attention tournament storyline for timely sports marketing.

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• 2020League of Legends Championship Series partnership

  United States

  Buffalo Wild Wings became a national partner of the League of Legends Championship Series, bringing the brand into organized esports sponsorship.

  Outcome. Expanded sports-viewing marketing beyond traditional professional and collegiate sports.

  Source
• 2019MGM Resorts and Roar Digital partnership

  United States

  The chain announced a multiyear partnership with MGM Resorts International and Roar Digital, connecting its sports-bar positioning with sports-betting-related entertainment.

  Outcome. Added a sports and gaming partnership to the brand's marketing platform.

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• 2001Retail sauce and potato-chip initiative

  United States

  Buffalo Wild Wings pursued packaged food opportunities, including a branded potato-chip plan with Frito-Lay and expanded home sales of its sauces.

  Outcome. Extended the brand beyond restaurant dining into retail products.

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• 1998System-wide Buffalo Wild Wings name standardization

  United States

  The company used its first national advertising effort to resolve inconsistent use of BW3 and Buffalo Wild Wings and adopted the latter as the principal system-wide identity.

  Outcome. Created a more consistent national brand identity.

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• 2023Exit from CanadaStrategy

  The Canadian operation had contracted to a small number of restaurants after the earlier expansion.

  What changed. The remaining Ontario locations closed, ending Buffalo Wild Wings' Canadian operation.

  Aftermath. The brand's reported operating footprint became concentrated in the United States and selected international markets.

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• 2018Sale to Arby's Restaurant GroupM&A

  Roark Capital and The Wendy's Company announced a transaction intended to combine Buffalo Wild Wings with Arby's Restaurant Group.

  What changed. The acquisition closed on February 5, 2018, and the parent organization was renamed Inspire Brands.

  Aftermath. Buffalo Wild Wings became a privately held brand within the Inspire Brands restaurant portfolio.

  announced purchase price. approximately $2.4 billion plus debt (Announced November 2017; transaction closed February 5, 2018)

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• 2014Acquisition of a majority stake in Rusty TacoM&A

  The company continued exploring complementary restaurant brands and fast-casual growth opportunities.

  What changed. Buffalo Wild Wings purchased a majority interest in Rusty Taco, which was later renamed R Taco.

  Aftermath. The taco chain became part of the restaurant portfolio later assembled under Inspire Brands.

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• 2013Investment in PizzaRevM&A

  Buffalo Wild Wings sought exposure to adjacent restaurant formats beyond its core wing and sports-bar concept.

  What changed. The company acquired a minority stake in PizzaRev.

  Aftermath. The investment formed part of a broader diversification effort within restaurant concepts.

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• 1998Standardization of the Buffalo Wild Wings nameStrategy

  Different markets and advertisements used BW3 and Buffalo Wild Wings, creating an inconsistent system identity.

  What changed. The company selected Buffalo Wild Wings as the standardized public name and invested in improved sauce packaging.

  Aftermath. The name became the principal national brand identity, while BDubs and BWW remained informal abbreviations.

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• 1995Shift from college sports-bar concept toward casual diningStrategy

  The company expected faster growth and needed a restaurant format that could serve larger groups and a broader customer base.

  What changed. It designed a freestanding prototype with separate bar and dining areas, approximately 190 seats, and a larger footprint than many early locations.

  Aftermath. The format supported national development beyond the original college-town orientation.

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• 2023Buffalo Wild Wings exits Canada

  The remaining Canadian restaurants in Ontario closed, ending the chain's Canadian operation.

  Other
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• 2022Buffalo Wild Wings sponsors Saint Peter's breakout player Doug Edert

  During the NCAA men's basketball tournament, the brand entered a sponsorship arrangement with Doug Edert after his emergence as a prominent Saint Peter's player.

  Campaign
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• 2020Buffalo Wild Wings partners with the League of Legends Championship Series

  The brand announced a national partnership with the LCS, extending its sports and entertainment marketing into esports.

  Campaign
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• 2019Buffalo Wild Wings signs sports-betting partnership with MGM Resorts

  The chain announced a multiyear partnership with MGM Resorts International and its Roar Digital sports-betting venture.

  CampaignOther
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• 2018Buffalo Wild Wings becomes part of Inspire Brands

  The acquisition closed on February 5, 2018, and Arby's Restaurant Group adopted the Inspire Brands name.

  M&A
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• 2017Roark-backed acquisition of Buffalo Wild Wings announced

  Arby's Restaurant Group announced an agreement to acquire Buffalo Wild Wings for approximately $2.4 billion plus assumed debt.

  M&A
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• 2015Buffalo Wild Wings expands into Dubai

  The brand opened a restaurant in Dubai, extending its international presence into the United Arab Emirates.

  Other
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• 2010Buffalo Wild Wings announces Canadian expansion

  The chain announced plans to develop restaurants in Canada as part of its international growth.

  Other
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• 2003Buffalo Wild Wings begins trading on NASDAQ

  The company completed its public-market debut under the ticker BWLD.

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1. Buffalo Wild Wings
2. Buffalo Wild Wings official website