The Clarendon Hotel in Buffalo served chicken wings as an entree, as listed in a menu from July 1, 1857. This indicates the early presence of chicken wings in Buffalo's culinary history.

Clarendon Hotel Menu

The Buffalo wing was invented in 1964 at a family-owned establishment in Buffalo called the Anchor Bar by Teressa Bellissimo. They were covered in her own special sauce and served with blue cheese and celery.

Invention of Buffalo Wings

The city of Buffalo has celebrated Chicken Wing Day every July 29 since 1977.

Celebration of Chicken Wing Day

In 1981, James Disbrow and Scott Lowery, inspired by the lack of Buffalo wings availability, came up with the idea to start a restaurant while at Kent State University in New York.

Buffalo Wild Wings Founding

Buffalo Wild Wings was established in 1982.

Buffalo Wild Wings founded

In 1991, Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck started to franchise its concept with the help of Francorp, a Chicago-based law firm. This marked the beginning of expanding the brand through franchising.

Buffalo Wild Wings Franchising Begins

In 1992, eight company restaurants were opened.

Eight company restaurants opened

In 1993, a Philadelphia radio station hosted the first annual Wing Bowl eating contest, which has grown to become one of the competitive-eating circuit’s most prestigious events.

First Annual Wing Bowl Eating Contest

On January 8, 1994, Sally Smith joined the company and 35 new locations were opened.

Sally Smith joins company and 35 places open

On June 8, 1994, the first company restaurants were opened, and the first franchised location was established.

First Openings

In April 1996, Sally Smith was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer, taking on the task of expanding the chain's appeal by rebranding, redesigning, and transitioning from a college bar to a sports bar and grill.

Sally Smith becomes CEO

In 1998, Buffalo Wild Wings considered an initial public stock offering, but decided against it due to unfavorable market conditions. The company also standardized its name to Buffalo Wild Wings.

Consideration of Initial Public Stock Offering

In 1998, Buffalo Wild Wings prepared for an initial public stock offering of 1.5 million shares but had to abandon the idea due to unfavorable market conditions. This decision impacted the company's financial strategy.

Preparation for IPO Abandoned

On January 8, 1999, Buffalo Wild Wings secured a private placement.

Private placement obtained

By 2000, Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar had expanded to 19 states with 140 locations. The company also introduced new sauces and desserts to its menu, enhancing the dining experience for customers.

Expansion and Menu Additions

In 2000, Buffalo Wild Wings tested several new sauces but only added two to the menu along with its first dessert. This move aimed to enhance the menu offerings and attract more customers.

Introduction of New Sauces and Dessert

In 2001, Buffalo Wild Wings reported system-wide revenue of $150 million with a growth rate of 8 percent per year in same-store sales. The company also started focusing on increasing takeout sales.

Revenue Growth and Takeout Sales Focus

In October 2002, one of the co-founders of Buffalo Wild Wings, Jim Disbrow, passed away. Following his death, Sally Smith continued as the company executive with Lowery taking on the role of vice president of franchise construction.

Disbrow's Passing and Executive Changes

On January 8, 2003, Buffalo Wild Wings had its initial public offering.

Initial public offering

On September 8, 2006, the first national advertising campaign was launched to promote Buffalo Wild Wings on a larger scale.

First National Advertising Campaign

In 2008, Joey Chestnut set the Wing Bowl record by consuming 241 wings in two 14-minute periods.

Joey Chestnut's Wing Bowl Record

On Sept. 5, Buffalo, N.Y., held its fourth annual National Buffalo Wing Festival, a two-day celebration for all things wing.

National Buffalo Wing Festival

Buffalo Wild Wings announced its first international expansion plans into Canada in August 2010, marking a significant milestone in the company's growth strategy.

International Expansion into Canada

In 2011, Buffalo Wild Wings celebrated its 25th anniversary with the grand opening of the Company’s new flagship restaurant in Columbus, Ohio, marking a quarter-century of successful business operations.

25th Anniversary Celebration

In 2015, Buffalo Wild Wings expanded into the United Arab Emirates by opening a restaurant in Dubai. This move marked the company's entry into the Middle Eastern market.

Expansion into United Arab Emirates

Starting in 2016, Buffalo Wild Wings introduced a new restaurant layout that aimed to give guests the experience of being in a sports stadium.

Introduction of new restaurant layout

In November 2017, Roark Capital Group and The Wendy's Company announced their plan to acquire Buffalo Wild Wings for approximately $2.4 billion plus debt. This acquisition marked a significant change in the ownership of the company.

Acquisition by Roark Capital Group and The Wendy's Company

In November 2017, Roark Capital Group and The Wendy's Company announced the acquisition of Buffalo Wild Wings for about $2.4 billion plus debt. This marked a significant change in ownership for the popular restaurant chain.

On February 5, 2018, the acquisition of Buffalo Wild Wings by Roark Capital Group and The Wendy's Company was completed. The company was then renamed Inspire Brands, which became the parent company to Buffalo Wild Wings.

Completion of Acquisition by Inspire Brands

In 2019, Buffalo Wild Wings introduced a new uniform for its employees that includes only the company's logo.

Introduction of new uniform

In June 2023, Buffalo Wild Wings exited the Canadian market by closing its remaining 5 locations in Ontario. This marked the end of the company's presence in Canada.

Exit from Canadian Market

Buffalo Wild Wings, also known as BW3 or BWW, specializes in Buffalo wings and sauces. With over 1,200 locations in multiple countries, it is operated by Inspire Brands from Atlanta, Georgia.

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