Wings and Rings

<a href="http://ownabuffalo.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=home-is-where-the-heart-is-for-buffalo-wings-rings-with-oakley-station-opening-in-cincinnati-2705146" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2017 was another big year for Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings</a>, with seven openings to date and another seven planned for 2018. To add to that steady and strategic growth, the brand closed out the year with a bang by opening a new corporate-owned restaurant right in its own backyard.

The restaurant opened at 4615 Factory Colony Lane in Oakley Station on December 20, 2017 and has Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings executives excited about the prospect of forging an even closer relationship with their home market fans.

Said President and CEO Nader Masadeh, &ldquo;We are happy to celebrate our latest restaurant opening in our headquarters of Cincinnati and share that celebration with our home community as we cap off another successful year for the company.&rdquo;

The opening of the Oakley Station restaurant represents another step in the <a href="https://buffalowingsandrings.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=home-is-where-the-heart-is-for-buffalo-wings-rings-with-oakley-station-opening-in-cincinnati-2705146" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings corporate team&rsquo;s strategy to solidify a powerful cluster of corporate restaurants in Cincinnati</a>. Since new ownership bought the brand more than a dozen years ago, they have made corporate investment a top priority to move the brand forward. Corporate-operated restaurants consistently rank in the system-wide top ten and provide the leadership team with valuable insight and benefits to pass on new and existing franchisees. Additionally, the leadership team can point to their own success in the Cincinnati area when guiding multi-unit franchisees through how to saturate and manage a full market.

&ldquo;Franchising is about investing in growth and that is what we are doing with our continued openings of corporate-owned locations here in Cincinnati,&rdquo; said Philip Schram, Chief Development Officer for BW&amp;R. &ldquo;Having skin in the game helps us to provide the leadership and continue to hone our best practices to better serve our franchisees and give them the support to maximize their openings, operations, marketing and much more. It also helps us develop a strong roster of Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings team members who can further our mission and goals in restaurants throughout the system.&rdquo;

Greyson Kohrs has been with the Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings brand for two years, and as the new General Manager in charge of the Oakley Station location, he sees the opening as a way to strengthen the company&rsquo;s already strong bond to the Cincinnati community.

Said Kohrs, &ldquo;With our opening in Oakley, we hope to further expand our presence in our home market of Cincinnati as well as facilitate a strong relationship with the local communities.&rdquo;

And though the grand opening on the 20th was an epic event, Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings did not limit the festivities to a single day. In fact, to celebrate the 1984 founding of the brand in Cincinnati, grand opening events were planned to take place for a full two weeks, including a giveaway of free Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings food for a year to the first 84 guests in line on Saturday, December 23.

&ldquo;To show our appreciation of the support we&rsquo;ve enjoyed since we were founded here in Cincinnati back in 1984, we&rsquo;re throwing a party and inviting everyone in the area to come and experience and enjoy what Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings has to offer,&rdquo; said Masadeh.

While Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings is closing out the year with the Cincinnati opening, brand executives continue to set their sights on expanding out with the right franchisee partners in the coming year, including a focus on expanding out from Ohio into nearby markets including Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan.

However, the big Oakley Station opening is another reminder that no matter how big you get or to what far corners of the globe you expand, you really can always go home again.

Home is Where the Heart is for Buffalo Wings & Rings with Oakley Station Opening in Cincinnati

1851 Franchise

Elevated sports restaurant franchise continues to invest in home market growth to bolster support structure for franchisees

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CINCINNATI&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://ownwingsandrings.com/">Wings and Rings</a>, the 85-unit, club-level sports restaurant and bar franchise, has launched its Operating Partner Program (OPP), a strategic initiative designed to reward top-performing general managers with a share of the bottom line while creating a clear pathway toward future franchise ownership.Built to mirror the benefits of ownership without requiring significant upfront capital, the program gives high-performing operators a “sweat equity equivalent,” allowing them to participate directly in the financial success of their restaurants while continuing to grow within the system.“It’s really an opportunity for our best managers to earn a share of the bottom line,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-bafundo-44908a3/">Bob Bafundo</a>, Chief Operating Officer. “In many ways, it mimics the franchisee ownership model. The better the restaurant performs, the more they benefit. It creates true alignment.”The Operating Partner Program is grounded in one of Wings and Rings’ core values: “stand together as family.”With many general managers having more than a decade of tenure, the program reflects a long-standing commitment to recognizing and investing in the people who have helped build the business.“This is essentially a way to reward our best operators with a bigger, better opportunity,” Bafundo said. “It’s about recognizing the people who have been driving this brand forward for years and giving them a chance to grow with us in a more meaningful way.”Beyond individual rewards, the program is designed to strengthen the system as a whole by retaining top talent and creating stability at the general manager level, a key driver of restaurant performance.“Research in this industry consistently shows that stability at the general manager level leads to stability among hourly employees,” Bafundo said. “And that stability ultimately drives guest satisfaction, sales and profitability.”Participants are expected to operate with an owner’s mindset, taking accountability for performance, building strong teams and serving as the face of the brand in their local communities. The program also acts as a stepping stone toward future franchise ownership, giving operators the experience and financial upside to grow within the system.To qualify, candidates must demonstrate at least two years of strong performance as a general manager, consistent operational excellence, a desire to grow with the brand and the ability to make an upfront investment, which varies by restaurant.The Operating Partner Program is currently rolling out internally, with many candidates expected to meet eligibility requirements by the end of the year.As Wings and Rings continues to expand, the OPP reinforces the brand’s commitment to developing talent from within, strengthening its culture and aligning incentives across the system.“This is about investing in our people for the long term,” Bafundo said. “When our operators win, our teams win, and ultimately, our guests do too.”ABOUT WINGS AND RINGSEstablished in 1984 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Wings and Rings is THE club-level sports restaurant and bar with Craveworthy Wings and Rings, My Place Service and a Club-Level Ambiance, all to encourage social connections. Whether it’s enjoying a bit of banter, catching up over the game, finding new craft beer favorites, or celebrating a big win, Wings and Rings is the place where everyone can kick back, enjoy life, and champion everyday moments. With 85 units across the globe, Wings and Rings is changing the sports restaurant category, making elevated food and beverage experiences accessible to all fans. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wingsandrings.com">www.WingsandRings.com</a> and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ownwingsandrings.com">www.OwnWingsandRings.com</a>.

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The Cincinnati-based sports restaurant franchise created the program to give strong operators a larger share in store performance and a path to more ownership-style responsibility.

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CINCINNATI, Ohio —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/">Wings and Rings</a>, the 85-unit, club-level sports restaurant and bar franchise, is turning up the heat for college basketball fans during the 2026 NCAA tournament with a limited-time game day deal made for sharing. Kicking off with the first round on March 19 and running throughout the championship on April 6, guests can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/baskets">score a free basket</a> of Saratoga chips, fries or wedges with the purchase of 20 wings on NCAA tournament game days with code BASKETS.The tournament deals don’t stop there. Wings and Rings loyalty members will receive a new freebie loaded into their accounts during every round of the tournament, giving fans even more reasons to stay in the game. Guests can download the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/baskets">Wings and Rings app</a> to start earning rewards and unlock exclusive offers.Throughout the tournament, guests can enjoy Wings and Rings’ signature wings paired with bold sauces and flavors, making it easy to build a shareable spread for friends and family. Plus, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/deals">Daily Value</a> lineup keeps the deals rolling all week long:&nbsp;<ul><li>Monday &amp; Friday: Kids Eat Free. Start the week with homework after school and end it cheering on the game.</li><li>Tuesday: 40% off wings (traditional or boneless), juicy and packed with bold flavor.</li><li>Wednesday: $8.49 three-piece tender baskets. Hand-breaded, generous servings at unbeatable value.</li><li>Weekday Lunch (11 a.m.–2 p.m.): Generous portions of wings, sandwiches, burgers, and salads that won’t break the bank.</li><li>Happy Hour (Mon–Fri, 3–6 p.m.): Afternoon deals on drinks and bites, ideal for unwinding with friends before tip-off.</li></ul>During the tournament, guests can indulge in Wings and Rings’ Crafted Classics limited-time menu, featuring the return of Sam Adams Beer Cheese across comfort-forward dishes made for game watching. Favorites include Sam’s Beer Cheese Loaded Fries or Chips, the Beer Cheese Chicken Sandwich, and Beer Cheese Jumbo Tenders, perfect for sharing.With wall-to-wall games, shareable eats, and can’t-miss tournament deals, Wings and Rings is the ultimate spot for fans to gather and celebrate every championship moment.To find a Wings and Rings near you, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com">https://www.wingsandrings.com</a>.&nbsp;ABOUT WINGS AND RINGS&nbsp;Established in 1984 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Wings and Rings is THE club-level sports restaurant and bar with Craveworthy Wings and Rings, My Place Service and a Club-Level Ambiance, all to encourage social connections. Whether it’s enjoying a bit of banter, catching up over the game, finding new craft beer favorites or celebrating a big win, Wings and Rings is the place where everyone can kick back, enjoy life and champion everyday moments. With 85 units across the globe, Wings and Rings is changing the sports restaurant category, making elevated food and beverage experiences accessible to all fans. For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wingsandrings.com">www.WingsandRings.com</a> and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ownwingsandrings.com">www.OwnWingsandRings.com</a>.&nbsp;

Score big with a free basket of fries, chips, or wedges when you grab 20 wings on NCAA tournament game days, giving your crew extra fuel for every buzzer-beater.

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Wings and Rings Launches All-New Daily Value Lineup Packed with Big Flavors and Big Savings

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wings-and-rings-brings-back-sam-adams-beer-cheese-for-big-game-flavor-and-a-free-wings-giveaway

Home is Where the Heart is for Buffalo Wings & Rings with Oakley Station Opening in Cincinnati

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