Who Owns Buffalo Wild Wings?
Inspire Brands, the Atlanta based restaurant company backed by Roark Capital. It bought Buffalo Wild Wings in 2018, and the deal led to the creation of Inspire itself.
From a Columbus wing joint to Inspire Brands
Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery opened the first restaurant in 1982 near Ohio State University in Columbus. They missed the wings and beef on weck sandwiches of Buffalo, New York, so they called it Buffalo Wild Wings and Weck, shortened to BW3 and later B-Dubs.
The company went public in 2003 and grew into one of the biggest sports bar chains in the country before Arby’s Restaurant Group bought it.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1982 | Buffalo Wild Wings and Weck opens in Columbus, Ohio |
| 2003 | The company goes public on the Nasdaq |
| 2018 | Arby’s Restaurant Group buys it for about $2.9 billion including debt |
| 2018 | The combined company is renamed Inspire Brands |
What else Inspire Brands owns
Inspire Brands is one of the largest restaurant companies in the US. Besides Buffalo Wild Wings it owns Arby’s, Sonic, Jimmy John’s, Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins. Buffalo Wild Wings is run from its own base in the Minneapolis area, and most restaurants are franchised.
Where to see current prices
Wing prices, sauces and game day deals are on the Buffalo Wild Wings menu.
Related Questions
Is Buffalo Wild Wings owned by Arby’s?
It is owned by Inspire Brands, the company formerly called Arby’s Restaurant Group, which also owns Arby’s.
Who founded Buffalo Wild Wings?
Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery, who opened the first restaurant in Columbus, Ohio in 1982.
Is Buffalo Wild Wings publicly traded?
No. It was taken private when Arby’s Restaurant Group bought it in 2018.
How much did Inspire pay for Buffalo Wild Wings?
About $2.9 billion including debt.
What does BW3 stand for?
Buffalo Wild Wings and Weck, the chain’s original name.
Who owns Inspire Brands?
Inspire Brands is majority owned by the private equity firm Roark Capital.
More on Buffalo Wild Wings
About this guide. USA Food Menu is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with Buffalo Wild Wings or Inspire Brands. Details come from public sources and were checked in October 2026. See current prices on the Buffalo Wild Wings menu.
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