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Ohio BWW Helps Schools Raise Money by Hosting Weekly Radio Program

The Buffalo Wild Wings® in Tiffin, Ohio, has taken school fundraising to a new level over the past three years by hosting a weekly sports radio talk show focused on school athletics.

The BWW® in Tiffin, owned by The Mastro Development Group LLC, donates a percentage of sales to local school athletic programs each Monday that WTTR radio broadcasts from the sports bar. Franchisees Mike and Lori Mastro estimate that about $50,000 has been contributed to school programs since the unique arrangement started.

On Monday nights in the fall and spring, WTTR’s team of sports analysts convenes at BWW to highlight a school and an upcoming matchup in football, basketball or other sports, depending on the season. Fans of the schools are encouraged to eat dinner at the restaurant. School bands and cheerleaders attend and perform, and usually coaches and athletes are there to be part of the broadcast. Fifteen percent of the night’s total sales are then donated to the featured school’s athletic program.

The program usually boosts the sports bar’s sales by several thousand dollars over an average Monday night. “That’s what makes it work for us,” Mike Mastro said. “The labor cost as a percentage of sales goes down if our sales go up, so all we’re really doing is sharing our labor cost savings that we get with the schools. That’s the way we view it.”

This win-win scenario has additional benefits, branding BWW as the place to go for local events and as an involved, caring community partner. The sports bar has also hosted benefits for local fire and police causes, Alzheimer’s disease research and other community events.

“You have to wrap your arms around these communities and give back,” Mike Mastro said. “We’ve been very fortunate in Tiffin and in the other communities where we’ve run Buffalo Wild Wings sports bars. We’re going to keep it going. It makes us feel good, and it’s a good deal for everyone.”

The BWW in Tiffin, Ohio, hosts a weekly radio show dedicated to area sports. Each Monday night is also a fundraiser for a local school.

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FBS Summit

May 9-11, 2022 Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Bonita Springs, Florida

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AZ Wings Management Inc. Honors the Lives of Two Guests

Since 2007, Ohio State University (OSU) football fans in Gilbert, Arizona, have called the Gilbert BWW® their home bar on Saturdays during the fall. Loyal guest Dan was one of them – he always was the first to come and sit at his favorite spot at the bar each week for years.

On Dec. 20, Dan lost a battle with stage four colon cancer that metastasized to his liver. Dan always wished to be buried in his home state of Ohio, so the restaurant raised over $1,000 to contribute to shipping his body. Another OSU fan’s company also donated $1,500 for the burial.

OSU faced the Utah Utes in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, and guests and staff at Buffalo Wild Wings® honored his life by saving his seat at the bar and preparing his go-to order, a glass of iced tea. The entire bar rail was reserved for Dan’s closest friends. His mother and sister flew from Ohio to gather his things, so they also attended.

“He will always be remembered, and we’ll always give him a salute during each game,” said franchisee Gayle Schmidt. “He was the nicest guy and loved by all.”

Another AZ Wings Management Inc. location in Casa Grande, Arizona, recently celebrated the life of loyal guest Diane, who died suddenly from a stroke. The Casa Grande team held a memorial for Diane, and many regulars attended. They put a photo of Diane at the bar with her favorite beer and encouraged guests to donate to the American Stroke Association. They raised $750 for the cause.

“Guests become family who are close and dear to us,” said Schmidt. “When they pass, there is a tremendous void felt by all and a period of mourning takes place. They will always be remembered as special friends, and those bar seats will always have their names attached in memory.”

The BWW in Casa Grande, Arizona, set up a memorial for loyal guest Diane with her photo and favorite beer. Franchisee Gayle Schmidt (middle) holds a picture of Dan while standing with his mother and sister during the Rose Bowl.

The Aspire2B Hospitality Group helped open a corporate Buffalo Wild Wings GO in San Antonio as training for opening its own locations.

Aspire2B Hospitality Group Prepares to Open Two BWW GO Units in 2022

Aspire2B Hospitality Group, a Buffalo Wild Wings® franchise group with nine restaurants in Texas and Louisiana, recently signed a seven-store deal for new Buffalo Wild Wings GO locations in College Station and the greater Houston area.

The group has plans to open the first two restaurants this year. Franchisee Chris Olexa immediately became interested in the concept when it was introduced by Inspire Brands.

“We had some of our full-service stores doing $1 million in takeout sales alone, which kind of over-strapped our restaurants inside,” said Olexa. “Before the pandemic, we never knew that we would have that many people ordering takeout from Buffalo Wild Wings. Being able to alleviate that stress on our existing stores while also seeking a growth opportunity was really attractive for us.”

The Aspire2B team visited some of the first GO restaurants that opened and was excited by the concept of the smaller labor model. The team even recently helped open a new corporate-owned location in San Antonio to prepare for its first restaurant opening this summer.

Like other franchisees, Olexa and his team have faced obstacles from the labor and supply chain shortages, specifically for walk-in coolers and signage. Lead times on this equipment have increased exponentially, so the development team has had to plan accordingly when setting opening dates.

To tackle the labor shortage and recruit staff for its new restaurants, Aspire2B uses social media to promote its company culture and attract the right candidates. “We want to establish that we are the place to be, as opposed to any other chain restaurant down the road,” said Olexa.

The company recognizes its employees on social media for good performances and showcases how they go above and beyond for their staff inside the restaurants. During busy nights, like the Super Bowl or UFC Fight Nights, managers set up a hospitality table in the back with snacks, candy and energy drinks. Small gestures like these motivate employees and create intrigue for potential candidates when they see it on social media.

For other FBS members looking to expand, Olexa advises franchisees to look at what’s a good fit for their brand, study opportunities and react fast when the right opportunity arises.