Buffalo Wild Wings
An American casual-dining and sports-bar chain centered on Buffalo-style chicken wings, sauces, televised sports, and group occasions.
Last updated October 23, 2026
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Overview
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…
History
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.
- 2023
Canadian operation closes
[1]The remaining Canadian restaurants close, ending the brand's Canadian presence.
- 2018
Acquisition by Inspire Brands
[1]The acquisition by Arby's Restaurant Group closes, and the parent company is renamed Inspire Brands.
- 2015
Dubai restaurant opens
[1]The brand expands into the United Arab Emirates with a restaurant in Dubai.
- 2014
Majority investment in Rusty Taco
[1]The company acquires a majority interest in Rusty Taco, later associated with the R Taco name.
- 2013
Minority investment in PizzaRev
[1]Buffalo Wild Wings takes a minority stake in the upscale pizza chain PizzaRev.
- 2010
Canadian expansion announced
[1]The company announces plans to enter Canada.
- 2003
Public listing on NASDAQ
[1]Buffalo Wild Wings begins trading on NASDAQ under the symbol BWLD.
- 1999
100th location opens
[1]The chain reaches 100 locations with the opening of a restaurant in Apple Valley, Minnesota.
- 1998
Brand name is standardized
[1]The company adopts Buffalo Wild Wings as its system-wide public name rather than alternating among BW3, Buffalo Wild Wings, and related variants.
- 1996
Sally Smith becomes president and CEO
[1]Smith is promoted after helping address the company's financial and administrative problems.
Products and positioning
Mid-market casual dining built around sports viewing, social gatherings, chicken wings, customizable sauces, beer, and a high-energy restaurant atmosphere.
Chicken wings · 1982
Traditional Wings
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.
Chicken wings
Boneless 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.
Sauces and flavorings · 1982
Wing Sauces and Seasonings
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 meals
Chicken Tenders and Other Chicken Items
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.
Casual-dining menu
Burgers, Sandwiches, and Shareable Sides
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.
Beverages · 1982
Beer and Beverages
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.
Controversies
2026
Wild Willy’s sues Buffalo Wild Wings over Wild Burger brand
Wild Willy’s filed a lawsuit against Buffalo Wild Wings concerning the “Wild Burger” brand. According to the reported summary, Wild Willy’s alleges that the brand causes customer confusion. The dispute centers on the use of the “Wild Burger” name. No further details on the claims, the relief sought, or the outcome of the case were provided in the source summary.
Marketing campaigns
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Brand decisions
2023
Exit from CanadaStrategyBackground
The Canadian operation had contracted to a small number of restaurants after the earlier expansion.
Action taken
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.
2018
Sale to Arby's Restaurant GroupM&ABackground
Roark Capital and The Wendy's Company announced a transaction intended to combine Buffalo Wild Wings with Arby's Restaurant Group.
Action taken
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)
2014
Acquisition of a majority stake in Rusty TacoM&ABackground
The company continued exploring complementary restaurant brands and fast-casual growth opportunities.
Action taken
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.
2013
Investment in PizzaRevM&ABackground
Buffalo Wild Wings sought exposure to adjacent restaurant formats beyond its core wing and sports-bar concept.
Action taken
The company acquired a minority stake in PizzaRev.
Aftermath
The investment formed part of a broader diversification effort within restaurant concepts.
1998
Standardization of the Buffalo Wild Wings nameStrategyBackground
Different markets and advertisements used BW3 and Buffalo Wild Wings, creating an inconsistent system identity.
Action taken
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.
1995
Shift from college sports-bar concept toward casual diningStrategyBackground
The company expected faster growth and needed a restaurant format that could serve larger groups and a broader customer base.
Action taken
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.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Wild Willy’s sues Buffalo Wild Wings over Wild Burger brand[3]
Reported:
Wild Willy’s sued Buffalo Wild Wings over the “Wild Burger” brand, alleging customer confusion.
- Unconfirmed
Buffalo Wild Wings opens prototype store in Georgia[4]
Reported:
Buffalo Wild Wings opened its first Georgia sports bar featuring the brand’s new restaurant design in Alpharetta.
Buffalo Wild Wings partners with Red Cross on blood-donor incentive[5]
Reported:
Buffalo Wild Wings and the American Red Cross called on the community to donate blood during January. Donors at Fairfield County Red Cross blood drives during the month were to receive a $5 Buffalo Wild Wings gift card.
Sources5 sources
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