The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Local Buffalo Wild Wings franchisee expanding elsewhere

Supporters trying to keep aviation film festival on this year
4:01 p.m.
Local pharmacist joins online cardiac venture
11:07 a.m.
Over 300 jobs expected from grants to Dayton, Springfield companies
11:47 a.m.
Company trains new workers to prepare for possible $4M contract
2/8/10
New stores coming to Monroe outlet mall
2/8/10
> More headlines

By Tim Tresslar, Staff Writer Updated 10:03 PM Thursday, September 24, 2009

DAYTON — The local franchisee for Buffalo Wild Wings Grill and Bar wants to open six of its sports bar eateries in South Carolina during the next four years.

Construction began this week on the first restaurant in Columbia, S.C., which is slated to open in December, said John Slaughenhaupt , a partner in ThreeWitt Enterprises Inc. , the franchisee.

In the Dayton area, ThreeWitt Enterprises — which also includes David Fisher and Eric Lundgren — owns 10 Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants and three Milano’s Atlantic City Subs . The company is expanding into the Palmetto State because it wanted to grow the company, but had maxed out the local market, Slaughenhaupt said. Additionally, they liked Columbia because of its similarities to Dayton, including the presence of universities and a military base.

“It just felt a lot like home,” he said.

Plans call for the company to open one store in Columbia this year. Another two stores each will be added in 2010 and 2011. Executives plan to add a sixth store in 2012, Slaughenhaupt said. ThreeWitt’s territory also includes Sumter, S.C., where the company will open one store.

The southward expansion of the company, which employs 800, eventually should result in growth for the company’s Dayton headquarters, Slaughenhaupt said.

Jay Janney, an associate professor of management at the University of Dayton, said it’s not unusual for companies that expand into new territories to also add staff at home so they can better manage operations.

“The idea that the expansion in South Carolina will benefit the Miami Valley is very reasonable,” Janney said.

The partners began looking out of state for areas to develop because they had built as many Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants as they could in Dayton, Slaughenhaupt said.

Spokeswoman Liz Brady said Minneapolis-based Buffalo Wild Wings Inc., which has approximately 600 stores, plans to add 80 stores in 2009, an increase of 15 percent.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7317 or ttresslar@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

I have eaten at both BW3 and Wild Wing Cafe. The atmosphere in a BW3 is the first difference you see in quality. Definitely more TV's!! It by far outweighs most of the Wild Wing Cafe's that I have been to (3 in Columbia and 1 in Charleston). As for the food, I will say WW Cafe's wings are a bit bigger but the flavors are much better at BW3's. I enjoy the side items better at BW3's as well. I only eat at WW Cafe now because there is not a BDUBS in town. Soon to change! ABOUT TIME!

Mark
12:37 PM, 9/29/2009

REPORT ABUSE

BW3 too is a knock off of real buffalo wings. You can get better wings from most random pizza joints in the Buffalo NY area. Anyhow, Columbia will welcome the competition. Tall beers, passable wings, and sports TV always will have a home if good locations are selected. If you need a location in the Harbison area, there's several properties open on Columbiana Dr.

Check this for locations and what mistakes to avoid:

http://columbiaclosings.com/

Holla from CAE
11:00 AM, 9/26/2009

REPORT ABUSE

If the stores you are building in Columbia, SC are anything like the ones here in Dayton it should be a big hit! I have eaten at Wild Wing Cafe...needless to say I wasn't impressed! Reminds me of Wings & Rings...just a couple of knock offs of BW3's!

Greg S.
10:12 PM, 9/25/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Good luck putting the BW3 chicken meat influenced toothpicks and limited menu against Wild Wing Cafe.

Holla from CAE
1:09 PM, 9/25/2009

REPORT ABUSE

@ Tom-
You're obviously an EMPLOYEE, dude.
Who also must not read many blogs on here re: the "restaurant" industry and who has the best wings.
Word is you're wrong pal, sorry.
Now get back to work.
I'll stick with the afore mentioned businesses with bigger wings...

Doc
11:57 AM, 9/25/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There are 6 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.