Buffalo Wings & Rings races into Indy

In an expansion effort targeting Midwest metropolitans, sports-theme casual-dining brand Buffalo Wings & Rings is looking to aggressively expand along the I-74 and I-65 corridors to in-fill its development with new locations between Cincinnati and Chicago, with a particular focus on Indianapolis. In an effort to close the gap between Cincinnati and Chicago, the Cincinnati-based brand is looking to open restaurants all around the 300-mile stretch between the two markets. Expansion in Indianapolis, where there are currently no locations within the city limits, also provides the opportunity to fill in more white space between corporate headquarters and the suburbs of Greater Chicago, where Buffalo Wings & Rings currently has three locations. Of the brand's five locations in Indiana, none sit on the road between the state capital and Chicago. “Movement into Indianapolis is a top priority, and we hope to become the go-to restaurant for a family-friendly environment and high-quality food while catching the game,” said Philip Schram, executive vice president of franchise development at Buffalo Wings & Rings LLC. “We’ve seen great success in the Midwest and hope to build on this momentum moving forward.” Interstate 65, which stretches from Mobile, Alabama, to the southeast side of Chicago, is the major highway leading from Indianapolis to the Windy City. Buffalo Wings & Rings is targeting the area in Northwest Indiana, a sports hotspot where fans of Notre Dame and both Indianapolis and Chicago sports teams all live and cheer for their teams. The brand is currently seeking operating partners and franchisees in Gary, South Bend, Elkhart, Merrillville and Hammond for expansion. Indianapolis, a mere two hours away from Cincinnati, has similar target demographics for Buffalo Wings & Rings, which caters not only to sports fans but also to families and large groups of co-workers and sports teammates. The market also contains prime real estate for restaurant build-outs and is home to fans of the Indiana University Hoosiers, Butler University Bulldogs, Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers — a huge plus for a sports-theme franchise. As the chain fills in undeveloped territories between its established markets and moves westward, it helps support markets in between by gaining supply chain efficiencies and picking up marketing strength. Of the brand's 45 restaurants in 12 states, 11 are located in central and southwest Ohio. The brand began this growth period three years ago and has also added Iowa and Nebraska as expansion territories for the future. “As we gradually expand across the Midwest, building out key markets like Indianapolis and Chicago are crucial for setting ourselves up for future success,” Schram said. “This area, filled with millions of families and growth opportunities, provides the perfect platform to elevate our  brand into 2015.”