What wing-focused restaurant chain was founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1982?

The wing-focused restaurant chain founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1982 is Buffalo Wild Wings.

The company began as Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck, a name that referred both to Buffalo-style chicken wings and beef on weck, a regional sandwich. Founders James Disbrow and Scott Lowery opened the first restaurant near Ohio State University after they had trouble finding Buffalo-style wings elsewhere in Ohio. Mark Lutz joined the business within six months.

The chain later became known simply as Buffalo Wild Wings, while the nickname “BW3” preserved part of the original three-word identity. Its restaurants became known for numerous wing sauces, sports-bar atmosphere, beer, and televised games. The brand expanded through franchising during the 1990s and eventually became a national chain.

A common mix-up is confusing Buffalo Wild Wings with Wingstop or Bonchon, which are separate restaurant companies. “Wild Wing Restaurants” is also not the name of the Ohio-founded chain. Buffalo Wild Wings was acquired by Inspire Brands in 2018 and continues operating under that parent company.