Wings and Rings

In 1984, <a href="http://ownabuffalo.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=strong-support-system-and-proven-business-model-help-buffalo-wings-rings-franchisees-break-into-emerging-markets-11975" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings</a> served up its very first chicken wing in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ever since that humble beginning, the brand has grown rapidly throughout its home state. Today, it boasts more than 70 locations throughout the United States, proving that this Midwestern-based restaurant had a concept and a model that could thrive just about anywhere.

Nowhere is this more evident than in Florida&mdash;a state that, today, is home to four <a href="https://buffalowingsandrings.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=strong-support-system-and-proven-business-model-help-buffalo-wings-rings-franchisees-break-into-emerging-markets-11975" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings</a> locations and counting. But getting to that point wasn&rsquo;t exactly easy. And like any brand breaking into an emerging market, it came with its own set of unique challenges&mdash;challenges that both the franchisee and the franchisor worked together to overcome.

That story starts in North Port, Florida in 2009, when David and Brian Bourlier took a chance on an emerging Cincinnati-based brand. Prior to joining Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings as a franchisee, David&rsquo;s father, Brian,&nbsp;spent 34 years with the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. He started in 1972 at age 19 and retired in 2007 at age 53. After two years of retirement, he decided he wanted a business opportunity he could run with his family, so he signed on as a Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings franchisee in North Port, Florida&mdash;the first in the state. After experiencing success at their initial location, the family then opened their second location in Port Charlotte in 2014.

David admits that launching Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings in a state with very little brand awareness came with its fair share of headaches in the beginning. But with the help of the Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings&rsquo; corporate team, continued success was well within reach. So much so, in fact, that the Bourliers have recently secured real estate for their third location in the state in Fort Myers.

&ldquo;Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings really worked hand-in-hand with us and treated this as a true partnership from the very beginning. They recognize that our success is the success of the brand overall&mdash;especially when we&rsquo;re working to gain a foothold in a new state. It&rsquo;s about doing everything in our power to make the best first impression possible,&rdquo; David said. &ldquo;We believe that the key to our success in Florida came down to following the strong plan that corporate laid out and tapping into the resources that they offered. There&rsquo;s franchise plan in place for a reason&mdash;and Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings&rsquo; is one that works.&rdquo;

Countless other franchisees have found similar success in new and emerging markets, too&mdash;from California and Texas to North Dakota and Nebraska, restaurant operators around the country are helping Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings grow. That vast market availability throughout the U.S. has become a major differentiator for the brand, and it&rsquo;s enticing adventurous franchisees like the Bourliers to break ground in uncharted territory.

&ldquo;The No. 1 problem prospective franchisees face when looking to invest in their dream brand is that the markets they&rsquo;ll typically want to invest in are already taken. Market availability for franchisees is a big problem&mdash;you may be ready to grow a brand, but quickly realize that there&rsquo;s simply no more room for new development,&rdquo; said Philip Schram, the Chief Development Officer for Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s why, we&rsquo;re embracing the fact that we have such wide open territories. It creates unparalleled and nearly limitless opportunity for growth. And it opens the door to the possibility of future expansion down the line, including multi-unit ownership. There&rsquo;s no limit&mdash;franchisees can truly own that market. That&rsquo;s a huge positive for our owners.&rdquo;&nbsp;

But, according to Schram, the allure of developing the brand in new markets does come with a unique set of challenges. When a franchisee is first to market, they can&rsquo;t rely on the same network of existing staff members. A new franchisee in Chicago, for example, has the benefit of pulling from a trained network of experienced employees from a nearby location in Naperville, Illinois. In a new market, however, the franchisee, in a lot of ways, is starting from scratch.

&ldquo;The training process may seem daunting, especially when working with employees who have never heard of the brand before. Fortunately, Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings is dedicated to employee development&mdash;from the cooks and wait staff to the local manager,&rdquo; Schram added. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve long believed that we&rsquo;re only as good as our people, and we pride ourselves in helping develop the best teams in the industry.&rdquo;

And without the benefit of the built-in brand awareness that comes with developing in existing markets, franchisees in new territories also need to hit the ground running harder and faster with their local marketing&mdash;something that the Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings corporate team is heavily invested in. And while that does require extra work up-front, it&rsquo;s an effort that will pay off in a big way in the long run.

&ldquo;When you&rsquo;re alone in a market, it can seem intimidating to be the sole generator of brand buzz. You will have to spend more money to promote the brand in the beginning. But it&rsquo;s important to think of it this way&mdash;while those marketing efforts may require extra leg work, it will all be concentrated toward your success,&rdquo; Schram said. &ldquo;The franchisees in new and emerging markets have the benefit of a lot more personalized and individualized attention.&rdquo;

Today, it&rsquo;s clear that Buffalo Wings &amp; Rings&rsquo; approach to new market development is working. During the first quarter of 2017 alone, the brand saw the openings of new locations across the U.S., in Florida, Kentucky and North Dakota&mdash;proving that once franchisees overcome the challenges of breaking into an untapped territory, the risk is well worth it.

&ldquo;If you have the right vision and the right structure, you will succeed. It&rsquo;s an incredible thing to have the chance to bring new business and new development into a city. Even with the roadblocks that come with an emerging market, we&rsquo;re dedicated to making it as smooth as a journey as possible,&rdquo; Schram said. &ldquo;Ask any of our franchisees and they&rsquo;ll tell you--the challenge is worth the reward.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Strong Support System and Proven Business Model Help Buffalo Wings & Rings Franchisees Break into Emerging Markets 

1851 Franchise

By helping local owners tap into the advantages that new markets have to offer, Buffalo Wings & Rings is establishing a strong foundation in emerging territories throughout the country. 

This brand page has been paid for by WINGS AND RINGS. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

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Wings and Rings Rolls Out New Seasonal Sips, Menu Items and Holiday Gift Card Bonuses for Winter Limited-Time Offer

Wings and Rings Launches Operating Partner Program to Reward Top Performers and Build Future Franchise Owners

Wings and Rings Serves Up Game Day Deals for the 2026 NCAA Tournament

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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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CINCINNATI, Ohio —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/">Wings and Rings</a>, the 85-unit, club-level sports restaurant and bar franchise, is shaking up the week with a fresh lineup of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wingsandrings.com/deals">Daily Value offers</a> starting March 2. Leaning further into its reputation for crave-worthy wings and tenders, the brand is doubling down on what matters most: big flavor, big portions and big-time value, whether you’re feeding the family or grabbing your favorites with friends.&nbsp;Here’s what guests can expect from the Wings and Rings’ Daily Value lineup:<ul><li>Monday and Friday: Kids Eat Free kicks off and wraps up the week. Start Monday with homework after school and end Friday toasting the weekend with the game on at your local Wings and Rings.</li><li>Tuesday: 40% off wings! Traditional or boneless, every wing is juicy, tender and loaded with bold, crave-worthy flavor.</li><li>Wednesday: $8.49 three-piece tender baskets. Midweek cravings, meet unbeatable value. Wings and Rings’ three-piece tender baskets feature big, hand-breaded tenders, and offer better prices and bigger servings than most fast-food options.</li><li>Weekday Lunch (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.): Lunch doesn’t have to be small. Enjoy full-size lunch options, from wings, to sandwiches, burgers or salads, all at wallet-friendly prices.</li><li>Happy Hour (Monday–Friday, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.): Your favorite time of day just got better. Unwind with great drinks, food and can’t-miss deals all afternoon.&nbsp;</li></ul>These Daily Value offers are designed to give fans and families more of what they love: bold flavor, hearty portions and meals that satisfy.“We built our Daily Value lineup to give big value to the families and fans that make us who we are,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dansweatt/">Dan Sweatt</a>, Senior Marketing Manager. “We’re confident we have the best wings and tenders you can find. If you haven’t tried us before, now there’s a great reason to give us a shot. If you’re already a fan, this is our way of saying thank you.”Starting March 2, weekdays are about to get a whole lot tastier. To see the full menu or find your local Wings and Rings, visit:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wingsandrings.com">www.wingsandrings.com</a>.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>.

Starting March 2, the sports restaurant franchise will begin offering huge wing savings, Kids Eat Free nights and daily deals that make skipping the kitchen easy.

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

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Strong Support System and Proven Business Model Help Buffalo Wings & Rings Franchisees Break into Emerging Markets

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