9 minute read
FBS Member News
MEMBER NEWS
United Way Spices Up Fundraiser With BWW Wing Eating Contest
Grube Inc. Buffalo Wild Wings® sports bar in Bridgeport, West Virginia, hosted a fundraiser for The United Way of Harrison and Doddridge Counties, featuring a wing-eating contest and a dunk tank.
On Aug. 14, sports bar No. 3380 hosted the 14th Annual Hot Wing Eating Contest Fundraiser. BWW® donated staff, over 1,000 hot wings and a venue to make the event a success.
The wing eating contest was a competition to see who could eat the most wings and raise the most money. With a $20 entry fee, contestants had eight minutes to eat as many hot wings as possible without the use of a beverage. Teams had the opportunity to be sponsored by local organizations to raise money. With 33 participants, the contest ended with the victor eating an impressive 26 wings.
This year’s fundraiser was the debut of the dunk tank, where attendees would pay to submerge a volunteer in cold water. The volunteer in the dunk tank would change every hour, including notable figures such as mayor of Bridgeport, Andy Lang.
The event was incredibly successful, with the attendance of 300-plus people and over $103,000 donated to United Way. The event also drove restaurant sales up 20% the day of the event. Jason Mike, Grube Inc. BWW regional manager, wants to continue to grow the event with more additions to increase engagement.
“This is a great event out of COVID-19 because a year and a half ago, we didn’t know if we were going to be able to do an event like this,” Mike said. “It was great to see everyone together and happy again.” S
Wing-eating contest competitors trying to out eat one another.
High 5 Hospitality Sports Bar Trains for Narcan Administration
In 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared the opioid epidemic in the U.S. a public health emergency.
With Delaware having more than double the national average of opioid overdose deaths in the U.S., Lori Ewald, director of human resources and marketing for High 5 Hospitality, wanted to act to keep the company’s staff and customers safe.
On June 23, the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services partnered with High 5 Hospitality to train staff on the signs of an opioid overdose, the administration of Narcan and procedures in case this situation were to happen in a Buffalo Wild Wings® sports bar.
Held at Buffalo Wild Wings No. 3831 in Christiana, Delaware, the sports bar’s team members and High 5 Hospitality administrative staff were involved in this event. The training was 15 minutes and optional.
Narcan is an emergency medication used to help reverse the effects of opioids in case of an overdose. Eighteen kits containing two Narcan cartridges and fentanyl-testing strips were distributed. Employees were taught how to administer the medications effectively and how to give rescue breaths in case someone’s heart stopped.
Those who attended the event were very receptive to the training. Many of the staff found a common ground knowing people who are addicted to, or have died, from opioids.
High 5 Hospitality hopes to train staff at each of its sports bars on the importance of Narcan administration. The company wants to keep its guests and employees from becoming a statistic in the opioid epidemic.
“The restaurant industry is second to the construction industry for substance abuse,” said Ewald. “We do not condone the use of drugs. We are just trying to save a life.” S
Buttons were given to those who participated in the training. Members of the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services train Buffalo Wild Wings staff on the use of Narcan.
MEMBER NEWS
BWW Franchise Sells Boneless Wings at Spin Doctors Concert
One of RSQ Foods LLC’s Buffalo Wild Wings® recently served attendees at the Rock White Plains concert in White Plains, New York.
On July 26, sports bar No. 3405 set up a tabletop concession for concert attendees to buy boneless wings of two varieties: mild and honey BBQ. Closing off the street, Rock White Plains lasted three hours, with American rock band the Spin Doctors performing as the headliner and Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds as the opener.
The venue hosted 2,000 people. “It was a great time,” said White Plains BWW® General Manager, Donald Vitolo. “People really enjoyed everything.”
The concert was one of many events sports bar No. 3405 has catered. It has also participated in the Downtown White Plains Wing Walk, a sampling event showcasing the area’s wings.
Rock White Plains is being planned for next year, and the RSQ Foods LLC sports bar intends to cater it again. S
Store No. 3405 set up a tabletop to sell boneless wings to concert attendees. The opening band, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, performs.
On Sept. 13, Buffalo Wild Wings® franchise RSQ Foods LLC opened sports bar No. 3939 at the Shops at Nanuet in Nanuet, New York.
The sports bar had a soft opening to acclimate the new staff. This location was previously located at the Palisades Mall in Nyack, New York. Due to its troublesome placement in the mall, franchisee and FBS Chairman, Jim Bitzonis, decided to relocate this BWW® when the lease expired.
“It was on the fourth floor of a very large mall,” Bitzonis said. “It was too far and difficult for third-party delivery drivers to pick up orders. The location made it hard to take advantage of off-premises business.”
The relocated sports bar served promise during its development, with a lower cost to build than remodeling the old location. With the previous renters being restaurant owners, the new location came with a generous amount of restaurant equipment.
“So far, it’s a win-win situation with cheaper rent and double the takeout orders,” Bitzonis said.
This sports bar takes the center stage model featuring a bar that has windows that open to the outside dining area. It comes custom with all new audio-visual equipment and memorabilia.
Bitzonis’ goal with this sports bar is simple: an increase in sales and a better experience for the customer.
“I love the location it is in,” Bitzonis said. “Our numbers are already promising, and I am very excited to see what this sports bar can do.” S
The staff of the Nanuet BWW celebrating the grand reopening.
EVENT CALENDAR
FBS Summit
April 17-20, 2023 Marriott Resort Sawgrass Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
BWW Sports Bar Kicks Off High School Football Season With Fundraiser
AGrube Inc.-owned Buffalo Wild Wings® sports bar scored funds for Wilmington High School in Wilmington, Ohio.
On Aug. 15, sports bar No. 3153 raised a little under $500 for the high school by holding a spirit night. The event was a part of the Eat Wings, Raise Funds program, an initiative to raise money for organizations in the community by donating a portion of sales from a specific time frame on a night of restaurant service.
The BWW® shined with the school’s colors with decorations, a balloon archway and the staff sporting Wilmington Hurricane gear.
With the attendance of football players, families and Wilmington Hurricane fans, the sports bar roared with excitement for the team. Activities included a wing-eating contest and interviews with the new head coach and players.
“It was just a fun time,” said Grube Inc. Marketing Shift Lead, Tresa Back. “This was our first event post-COVID-19. I was happy to see the football players excited about the season.”
Back said community outreach is a priority initiative for the company, which offers to host high schools and nonprofits regularly. With the success of the event, Grube Inc. and Wilmington High School will work together again in the future. S
The staff at sports bar No. 3153 sporting Wilmington Hurricane gears.
The FBS FAC Talks Business at Inspire Brand’s Headquarters
The Franchise Business Services (FBS) Franchisee Advisory Council (FAC) met on Sept. 13, at Inspire Brand’s headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, to discuss the current state of the brand and to plan ahead for the upcoming year.
Among BWW® leaders, members of the FAC that attended this meeting were FBS Chairman Jim Bitzonis, FBS Vice Chairman Roz Mallet, Former FBS Chairman Wray Hutchinson, Jenny Beaudoin, Bobby Pancake and Mark Jones.
The topics reviewed were: Blazin’ rewards, complimentary dishes to guests and fraud, reversals, financial performance, the affects of inflation and costs
of goods and off-premises performance. Current technologies like the handheld servers were discussed, as well as FreedomPay issues, constraints of the system, purchasing strategies, marketing, limited-time offer performance, how to return lapsed guests and the introduction of new sauces. Attendees also had the The FBS Franchisee Advisory Council (FAC) meeting with opportunity to sample potential BWW representatives at Inspire Brand’s headquarters. menu items that could reach sports bars in 2023. The FAC plans to meet quarterly in person as they did before the COVID-19 pandemic. S
We want to highlight your company’s achievements (employee promotions, new hires, employee or restaurant anniversaries and sales records). To submit information for Member News, complete the online submission form at www.myfbsonline.org/submissions, email communications@myfbsonline.org or call 678-797-5161.
MEMBER NEWS
