The city of Detroit's attempts to join the likes of its other major metropolitan counterparts has made a giant leap forward this past month with the opening of a Buffalo Wild Wings franchise in downtown Detroit.
For those unaware, Buffalo Wild Wings, aka BW3, aka BWW, aka B-Dubs, is a restaurant/bar chain specializing in buffalo wings that started in Columbus, OH in 1982 and has expanded to nearly 900 locations in just about every state in the U.S.
Opening in downtown Detroit on December 23, 2012, Buffalo Wild Wings takes over the historic Temple of Odd Fellows building at the corner of Randolph and Monroe, bordering on the popular Greektown area. At a size of 12,000 square feet, this location prides itself as the largest Buffalo Wild Wings in the country.
The Buffalo Wild Wings building consists of 3 floors (the first two for restaurant customers, the top one for Buffalo Wild Wings corporate staff) including a main dining and bar area on the first floor, and a banquet dining/bar area and patio dining/bar area on the second floor. The patio also features an outdoor deck where patrons will be able to sit outside and overlook Campus Martius Park when the weather warms up. The building houses 95 flat screen TVs including four 90" flat screen TVs above the first floor bar. Buffalo Wild Wings Detroit represents its Detroit sports teams well with photos of Detroit pro and college greats, an antique scoreboard and even a miniaturized replica of the large cement tiger that sits in front of Comerica park.
Buffalo Wild Wings' menu consists of southwestern style plates, old fashioned American BBQ and the house specialty buffalo wings which feature 16 signature sauces and 5 seasonings. The drink selection includes 24 draft beers, several of which are brewed right here in Michigan.
This Buffalo Wild Wings does not allow anyone under the age of 21 to enter after 8 pm unless accompanied by a guardian and also after 8 pm features a security staff checking i.d.'s at the door.
The lack of a true all-sports bar/restaurant worthy of Detroit, its four sports (and two major college teams) and their massive fan base has been something of a secondary need when compared to the countless many that stand between Detroit today and the greatness it envisions for itself in the future. This opening may not be the stepping stone that ushers Detroit into greatness, but it may be the first major chain to stick its toe in the water and serve as an example for other major corporate chains to see just what level of success and acceptance can be achieved downtown. For Detroit, wings, beer and sports have never been more important.
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