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.

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.

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

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 was established in 1982.

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.

In 1992, eight company restaurants were 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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.