You might have noticed a lot of chatter lately about big restaurant chains running into problems. Maybe you’ve even heard rumors about Buffalo Wild Wings shutting down or going out of business. Let’s get straight to the point before we get into the details: Buffalo Wild Wings isn’t going anywhere. The wing-and-sports bar chain is still open for business and, in fact, looks pretty healthy based on recent data.
Still, with all the headlines about restaurant struggles, it makes sense that people have questions. Let’s walk through where Buffalo Wild Wings stands right now using real sales figures, promotions, and some behind-the-scenes information about its owners.
Promotional Successes: All-You-Can-Eat Wings Make a Difference
One thing that stands out lately is how Buffalo Wild Wings has managed to bring in crowds with certain promotions. Earlier this year, they rolled out an all-you-can-eat boneless wings and fries deal for $19.99. But this wasn’t just any deal; it was only on Mondays and Wednesdays.
The numbers speak for themselves. According to foot traffic data from Placer.ai, customer visits shot up significantly on those days up to 55% higher on Mondays and almost 74% higher on Wednesdays than recent averages. That’s not a small bump; that’s a noteworthy surge in people actually showing up and ordering food midweek, which can be tough for sit-down chains.
It’s interesting to line these results up with what happened to Red Lobster, another chain people are watching closely. Red Lobster tried running a permanent “endless shrimp” deal, hoping for a similar boost, but it ended up hurting their bottom line. They got so many people coming in for cheap shrimp that they just couldn’t keep up with the costs, which contributed to their financial troubles.
Buffalo Wild Wings, in contrast, seemed to thread the needle with a limited-time deal that excited people, brought them in during slower days, and didn’t leave the chain underwater financially. One spokesperson even said, “Buffalo Wild Wings will not be going bankrupt anytime soon,” when they were asked about the promotion.
Ownership and Operational Enhancements
Ownership often tells you a lot about how a business is run behind the scenes. In 2017, Roark Capital a big private equity firm — bought Buffalo Wild Wings for $2.4 billion. After that, they merged it into Inspire Brands, which already owned Arby’s and SONIC Drive-In, among others.
Since then, there have been some important changes that have helped Buffalo Wild Wings stay stable. For example, management job postings for Buffalo Wild Wings dropped 23% after the Inspire Brands deal, White-collar management jobs are one of the bigger costs in this type of chain. Fewer job postings suggest Inspire figured out a way to run things a bit leaner. To balance it out, job postings have actually gone up about 14% since 2019, which points to a certain level of growth and hiring, instead of cutbacks that usually signal trouble.
Another big deal is chicken prices. In 2022 and early 2023, the cost of chicken (especially wings) was sky-high. Recently, those prices have dropped about 25% from last summer. Lower prices for their main ingredient instantly improve profit margins without risky menu changes or layoffs. That’s the kind of break that helps any restaurant chain ride out challenging times.
Growth Signals: Looking Beyond the Menu
Traffic data isn’t the only way to tell if a brand is holding up. Social media can give a hint, too especially for a place known as much for atmosphere and sports as for food. On Facebook, a key indicator is the “Were Here” count. That’s the little badge showing people actually checked in during a visit, and it’s gone up for Buffalo Wild Wings, which matches the boost they’ve seen in real-world foot traffic.
Some areas are more mixed. The number of Facebook “Likes” has started to stall, which isn’t unusual for older chains that aren’t as hyped up as new fast-casual brands. But Likes are mostly about brand buzz, not visits. For brick-and-mortar businesses like Buffalo Wild Wings, the number of people showing up in person is a much better yardstick than a digital thumbs up.
There’s also a push to appeal to younger customers, who want more than just TVs and wings. Buffalo Wild Wings has tried out redesigns in its newest locations. They’ve partnered with DraftKings to bring in fantasy sports fans, and they’ve added more gaming elements. These aren’t wild bets; they’re practical tweaks aimed at getting new and existing customers to stay a little longer, eat a little more, and enjoy the space.
Market Challenges and Where Buffalo Wild Wings Stands
A restaurant chain like Buffalo Wild Wings doesn’t live in a bubble. The entire sit-down restaurant sector has felt pressure from rising food costs, shifting tipping habits, aggressive delivery services, and labor shortages.
Buffalo Wild Wings did have a rough spell around 2019. There were worries about how to adapt as customers changed what they cared about—mainly, wanting food faster and with fewer fusses. But the brand used this time to rethink its menu, rethink staff efficiency, and look for ways to work better together with its “sibling” brands under the Inspire Brands parent company.
Looked at next to its competitors, Buffalo Wild Wings is on firmer ground. Many people are confusing them with other chains facing bankruptcy or mass closures, like Wild Wing Café and Back Yard Burgers. But those are different companies. Buffalo Wild Wings has not filed for bankruptcy, shown signs of insolvency, or started closing huge numbers of stores.
Customers don’t always put Buffalo Wild Wings at the absolute top for taste in the chicken chain rankings, but being in the lower-middle of customer rankings doesn’t mean they’re in trouble. There are plenty of big, stable businesses that don’t hit the top spot in a popularity contest think about casual chain pizza or burger joints. What matters more is whether people keep showing up, and for Buffalo Wild Wings, that has been the case lately.
What Restaurant Rumors Are Actually True?
It makes sense why people get confused. Fast-casual and full-service restaurant chains really are closing stores more often these days, and a lot of old favorites are downsizing or going under. News of staff layoffs, shrinking menus, or bad earning reports often make headlines, and in that environment, it’s easy to assume all the big names are next.
But if you actually look for bankruptcy filings, court documents, or credible news reports about Buffalo Wild Wings closing stores, you won’t find much. The rare closures that happen are mostly the kind of pruning every chain does from time to time shutting down a slow store, moving a location, or readjusting after lease negotiations fall through.
What you see in practice isn’t a company quietly pulling out of cities or strip malls. Quite the opposite: in many locations, you’ll find packed parking lots during major sports events and regular lines during those popular promotion nights.
The Role of Promotions in Keeping Things Steady
So why do promotions matter so much for a brand like Buffalo Wild Wings? This is a chain that relies heavily on crowds watching sports, group dining, and customers ordering multiple rounds of drinks and snacks.
All-you-can-eat deals aren’t just a gimmick they are a way to fill tables during slow periods and create energy in the building. The key is not overdoing it (the way Red Lobster learned the hard way). Limited windows for promotions keep costs in check but still generate more sales.
It’s worth pointing out that this approach works better for some chains than it does for others. Buffalo Wild Wings has to manage food costs particularly carefully, but the recent drop in chicken prices gave them extra room to run those deals profitably.
Also, for people interested in how promotions and loyalty programs drive repeat business or help side gigs, there’s solid advice and research available on sites like Side Business Tips as well. These kinds of strategies—combining the right offer with precise timing matter for restaurants and small businesses alike.
Is Bankruptcy or a Big Closure Coming?
There’s no credible evidence or report showing that Buffalo Wild Wings is heading for bankruptcy or widespread closures. Some confusion may come from other chains in the “wing” space running into real trouble, but those aren’t related. Inspire Brands, the parent company, remains solid and is managing its portfolio together, which gives Buffalo Wild Wings access to operational tools and cost savings.
With restaurant chains, rumors are common every time the economy wobbles or a promotion goes sideways at a similar competitor. For Buffalo Wild Wings, there are enough positive metrics right now customer visits, menu tweaks, improved management efficiency, and greater social engagement to back up what their executives and franchise owners are saying: business is steady.
Final Thoughts: What’s Next for Buffalo Wild Wings?
To pull it all together, it’s clear that Buffalo Wild Wings isn’t about to disappear from your city or local strip mall. Right now, their strategy of using smart promotions, staying sharp with management costs, and taking advantage of lower chicken prices is keeping the business well out of crisis territory.
No business is truly bulletproof, especially in today’s restaurant industry, but the usual warning signs of disaster aren’t here. If you walk in on a busy night, or check the numbers for foot traffic, you’ll see that Buffalo Wild Wings is still part of the American sports bar scene.
So the answer to that question is pretty straightforward. No, Buffalo Wild Wings is not going out of business. All signs show that it’s still open, operational, and looking for new ways to keep customers happy and that’s not likely to change anytime soon.
Also Read:
